President Bola Tinubu has called for unity of purpose and more collaboration between the federal government, 36 state governors, and members of the National Assembly to achieve national development goals.
The President on Friday made the appeal while receiving 27 state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly in Lagos.
Led by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the delegation included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the President, the Vice-President expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic resurgence and called for collective efforts to propel the nation forward.
He urged unity and collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve shared prosperity and promised a brighter future for the nation under President Tinubu’s guidance.
“Let us unite, rally around our leader, and catapult this nation to a greater pedestal. By December, I hope we will have cause to celebrate. Let us coalesce to take the nation to a greater pedestal,” Shettima said.
Emphasizing President Tinubu’s role as a unifying leader transcending ethnic and religious lines, the Vice-President noted that the gathering of 27 governors in Lagos, along with the leadership of the National Assembly and some former governors, bears the testimony of a detribalized leader who has embraced all.
According to him: ”This gathering cuts across ethnic, religious, and political lines. Here, we have Pastor Eno of Akwa Ibom and Father Hyacinth of Benue, and as the President was seated, he was asking, ‘Where is Wammako, where is Yari’? That is the hallmark of true leadership. What binds us together supersedes whatever it is that may divide us.
”The future of the black man rests on Nigeria to make or mar. Our economy has turned the corner. By the coming months, the economy will roar back to glory”.
Earlier, Senate President Akpabio commended the state governors for emulating President Tinubu’s leadership style, characterized by listening to diverse voices and consulting widely with the people, irrespective of political affiliations.
“The governors are doing well. I can say so because I have been there before,” Akpabio said.
Expressing confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, the Senate President noted that the President enjoys the broad support of Nigerians across political divides.
“As you coast home to victory for a second term, may all the governors seated here also coast home to a second term victory in their states,” Akpabio prayed.
Also speaking, NGF Chairman, Governor AbdulRazaq of Kwara state expressed support for the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a huge project that will have a significant impact on the nation when completed.
He commended the President’s efforts in stabilizing the economy and improving living conditions, highlighting the positive developments in the country, which include the stabilization of the exchange rate and decreasing food prices.
The governor attributed these improvements to the President’s initiatives and also lauded the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s funding for 8,800 primary healthcare centres.
“We commend your efforts because the ship is gradually turning. We have seen how the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar is coming down. The cost of food is coming down. The dry season harvest is commencing soon. Things are getting better, and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” the Governor said.
He urged President Tinubu to persevere in his efforts towards achieving economic stability.
AbdulRazaq also expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Federal Government to states, particularly in distributing grains to alleviate food shortages.
”We are here to support you, and we also thank you for the support that you are giving to the sub-nationals. Trucks are wheeling up across the nation, distributing grains. I have received, and most of the states have.
”Because of what you are doing, those who are hoarding food items are releasing them, and that is why the prices of food are coming down,” he said.
The NGF Chairman reiterated the governors’ commitment to supporting the President’s initiatives and pledged to continue complementing the efforts of the federal government in driving progress and prosperity across the nation.
On his part, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state lauded President Tinubu’s leadership style, declaring that the president has “proven his mettle” in steering the country through challenging times.
Abiodun, who spoke to newsmen at the sidelines of a visit of members of the Nigerian Govenors Forum to President Tinubu in Lagos on Friday said: “The man who governed Lagos, the size of many countries in Africa, has proven that he knows his mettle
“We are indeed here to solidarize with him, and as our chairman said, he has our support. We are standing right by his side, and we will be with him.”
He acknowledged the bold policy decisions introduced by the Tinubu administration aimed at repositioning the Nigerian economy despite their initial unpopularity.
He said: “We have come to pay respect to the president for the end of Ramadan. Without a doubt, we are convinced that the Almighty God is with him on this journey, particularly when you look at what he went through in the course of aspiring for office and what he has been through since assumption of office.”
Abiodun expressed optimism about the country’s economic turnaround, noting that a “bright shining light” is visible at the end of the tunnel.
He praised the president’s policies, which he said, are now bearing fruit, with the Naira gaining strength and the cost of the dollar declining.
“We have already seen a bright shining light at the end of the tunnel, and the economy of the country has turned a corner indeed.
“We are thankful for his leadership, and we just want to implore Nigerians to continue to be patient with him and his APC-led administration,” Abiodun said.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
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