President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured Nigerians that his administration is driven by the desire to serve and not to accumulate wealth.
Speaking on Friday, during a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly at the State House in Abuja, the President emphasized that his focus is on delivering results for the Nigerian people.
The President, who has often been accused of personal financial gain by his critics, stressed that he sought the office to make a positive difference in the lives of citizens, not to enrich himself.
In his own words, he said: “I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me.”
The meeting, which was attended by 16 former presiding officers of the National Assembly, including former Senate Presidents and former Speakers of the House of Representatives, provided Tinubu with a chance to reflect on his commitment to Nigeria.
According to a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu used the opportunity to stress the importance of unity and collaboration for national development.
The President acknowledged that the support from the members of the Forum, irrespective of party affiliations, was vital in pushing forward the national agenda.
He urged them to continue fostering unity, camaraderie, and cooperation to achieve the nation’s development goals, which he described as being in everyone’s best interest.
“Regardless of party differences of the past and difficulty of the present, you still believe in me and what we all plan for this country,” Tinubu said during the meeting.
President Tinubu’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with numerous challenges, including economic hardship, high unemployment, energy insecurity, and poor infrastructure.
The President expressed confidence that Nigeria can only progress through collaboration and inclusiveness, using other developed nations as examples of what teamwork can achieve.
“I have travelled the world and seen how developed countries have done it for themselves through collaboration, inclusiveness and financial structure,” he said.
He further reflected on Nigeria’s past mistakes, particularly during the years of high crude oil production, when the country failed to invest in key sectors that could have ensured long-term development.
“We neglected our communities; we neglected the goose that lays the golden eggs; we forgot even to give them a good standard of living,” the President lamented.
Tinubu’s comments about Nigeria’s reliance on crude oil echo concerns that the country, often called the “giant of Africa,” has not sufficiently diversified its economy.
He spoke passionately about the need to invest in education and infrastructure, highlighting the dilapidated state of schools across the country as an example of neglect.
“We forgot to educate our children. Go round and look at the dilapidated schools. The education environment must be decent enough for pupils to want to learn,” Tinubu said.
The President expressed frustration over Nigeria’s poor school enrolment numbers but questioned whether the country had done enough to address the underlying problems causing the low enrolment.
“We can complain from now till eternity that the school enrolment is low. But did we do anything to encourage the enrolment process? We must ask ourselves because it is a matter of conscience,” he said.
President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s focus on addressing these challenges and promised to do his best for the country.
He emphasized that his administration would work to improve infrastructure, ensure compliance with financial regulations, and explore alternative energy sources to provide energy security.
“We have come a long way, and I promise we must do our best,” the President assured the delegation.
Senator Ken Nnamani, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, expressed full support for President Tinubu’s administration and its efforts to tackle Nigeria’s many challenges.
Nnamani, a former Senate President, described the President as someone who is genuinely committed to addressing the country’s issues and making lasting changes.
“We stand by you, Mr. President, and we support all the efforts you are making to resolve the economic difficulties of this nation,” Nnamani said.
The meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers marked President Tinubu’s first official engagement with the group since assuming office in May 2023.
Tinubu’s remarks also come amidst growing public discontent over economic hardship in the country, fueled by the removal of fuel subsidies earlier in the year.
Critics of the administration have pointed to rising food prices, inflation, and unemployment as evidence that the government is failing to deliver on its promises.
But Tinubu, who is known for his bold and sometimes controversial leadership style, remains undeterred by the criticisms, stating that the challenges were inherited but can be solved with collective action.
He admitted that there is hardship, but urged Nigerians to understand the roots of the problems and focus on long-term solutions.
“Yes, there is hardship but how did we get here? What did we do when we had very high crude production?” the President asked.
