- The current hardship indicated in the high prices of
food and living conditions is a temporary situation
that will give way to a better life for Nigerians. That
was the assurance that President Bola Tinubu gave
leaders of the Afenifere, the Yoruba Socio-Cultural
organisation led by its leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti at
the State House in Abuja. The president assured them of
his administration’s commitment to a comprehensive
economic security for all Nigerians, which he said
would be achieved through addressing the fundamental
challenges in the country. He also said that the
government was working towards creating a fair and
equitable system.
Tinubu said his administration was re-engineering
Nigeria’s finances, putting things in place to boost
the purchasing power of citizens, and spread prosperity
down the line. The president told his guests that his
government was “instituting a credit system where the
element of cash would not be an impediment to a
significantly enhanced standard of living for all
citizens. We are committed to the economic survival of
our country.”
While throwing light on his education policy, the
president said, “We have seen the problems parents face
in training their children in school; it is the reason
why we established the National Student Loan Programme,
which is taking off well.” Concerned about what the
youth will do when they finish their education and the
care for those who are out of job, the president said,”
We are equally examining what to do with the high
degree of unemployment. We must help vulnerable people
by providing social security. We are looking at how to
provide allowances for the unemployed.”
Speaking further, the president espoused his policy for
the care of the working class and how to protect their
interest by not exposing them to unnecessary
temptations. He said, “We are developing ways to boost
the purchasing power of citizens with the Consumer
Credit Scheme. If we remove the cash upfront element to
buy a car or a house, we will reduce the propensity for
fraud and corruption across the land.” If what the
president said could be achieved by his administration,
he would have addressed some of the daunting challenges
of the country before he assumed power. So, aside from
the problem of poverty, economy and corruption, one
major problem that would be left is insecurity. But the
Afenifere leaders got a soothing message from Tinubu.
The president who said his government will drive
underground all who threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria
were already feeling the heat of the gallantry of the
country’s security forces said, “I can tell you we are
achieving success. We have degraded terrorism to a
level that they cannot threaten the sovereignty of
Nigeria any longer. Banditry and kidnapping will be
defeated. And there is no payment of ransom whatsoever.
We are taking the battle to them. We are getting
results more rapidly than before. We are working hard
on intelligence gathering. Those who think they can
threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria will have
themselves to blame. They have a price to pay. And we
are not going to relent.”
Olu Falae, former minister of finance and secretary to
the government of the federation lauded the President
and his team for his courageous decisions, the
rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos
and other critical ongoing projects.
Falae, now the monarch of Ilu Abo in the Akure North
local government area of Ondo State said, “Mr.
President, you are the leader of Nigeria now and the
most important political figure in Africa, we expect
you, in view of your legacy and pedigree, to lead our
country with knowledge, courage, and integrity. We have
no doubt that your tenure will mark a turning point in
the history of our country…”
On behalf of the group, the former SGF promised an
unalloyed support to see him through the assignment of
making Nigeria great. He said, “Be assured Afenifere
will not abandon you in fair or foul weather, as long
as you remain faithful to the principles of fairness,
integrity, and courage that is expected of you as the
leader of Nigeria, we will stand by you.
