Buhari hails Tinubu at mid-term, urges Nigerians to be patient with reforms
Former President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for steering the country through tough times.
He urged Nigerians to be patient with the reforms of the administration, saying that they are yielding positive results.
The former leader, who handed over to President Tinubu, two years ago, led the pack of statesmen and political leaders who felicitated the President on his second year in office.
Also, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, hailed President Tinubu’s efforts at tackling the economic challenges.
But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which lamented the insecurity, urged the president to reverse his economic and fiscal policies.
Buhari said in a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, that the bold reforms are yielding fruits, urging Nigerians to continue to give support for the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
Lauding the president for steering the country through tough but necessary reforms, he said the “desired changes must not fall victim to nettlesome domestic politics.”
Buhari added:”Reforms take time to yield results. The task of reducing poverty and inflation, which have hit the poorest families the hardest, is immense and must not be left only for the government. The private sector and all of us as citizens must join in all ways we can. Our expectations from our governments should not get heavy.
“I am wishing President Tinubu heartfelt congratulations on his two years in office. May you keep leading with wisdom and care.”
Barau: Nigeria on the path to prosperity
Barau said Nigeria is on the path to prosperity, saying that President Tinubu has laid the foundation for the restoration of the glorious days.
The Deputy Senate President said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, said the National Assembly would continue to support President Tinubu in implementing his Renewed Hope Agenda and consolidating the gains recorded in the last two years.
Highlighting President Tinubu’s achievements, Barau said: “The country in the past 24 months under the able leadership of President Tinubu, the visionary leader of our time, has been repositioned. Of course, he inherited a lot of challenges. But he has come up with programmrss and policies to surmount these challenges.
“We’ve seen how he has genuinely dealt with our twin main challenges: security and economy. We know we are not where we want to be, but the journey has started. It’s a work in progress. Mr President is working hard, day in and day out, to surmount the insecurity challenge.
“ Hundreds of terrorists have been neutralised, especially in the North West geopolitical zone. Most areas that have been tagged as no-go areas have been recovered. The instances of incessant kidnapping on the Abuja/Kaduna road have become history.
“In the Southeast, the activities of unknown gunmen terrorising the region have been on the downward slide. Boko Haram was almost completely eradicated until the recent attacks coming from the terrorist group in some parts of Borno State.”
Barau said the establishment of development commissions in the Northwest, Northcentral, Southeast, South west, and Southsouth would accelerate even development.
Barau noted the President has established several tertiary health and educational institutions to increase access to education and health facilities.
Describing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as unprecedented, he said records from the agency showed that over 300,000 students had already benefitted.
Barau said the president’s endorsement for a second term by all APC stakeholders was to give him enough time to complete his laudable policies and programmes.
He added: “I, therefore, call on Nigerians of all persuasions to continue to pray for our leaders and the well-being of our country and to offer their full support to President Tinubu as he resets our dear nation for peace and socio-economic prosperity.”
‘Tinubu has demonstrated courage’
Abbas praised President Tinubu for demonstrating courge and offfering good leadership, noting that
he showed commitment when he “vowed to lift the economy by six per cent annually, rationalise the foreign exchange market, generate jobs, and confront insecurity.”
The Speaker said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi, that Nigeria is on track under the APC-led administration.