Ayodele Olalere
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, promised his administration will put an end to the bleeding of the nation’s finances so as to rescue the country from collapsing.
The President spoke at a reception held in his honour by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State at the Lagos House, in Marina.
President Tinubu arrived at the Lagos House at about 3.40pm, after he had earlier visited Ogun State. Thursday’s visit was the first time he would be coming to Lagos after he was sworn in as president on May 29. He was in Lagos to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
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According to him, there was an urgent need to stop the bleeding in the nation’s financial system through speedy actions, saying he decided not participate in the arbitrage entrenched in the country’s commercial system in order to rescue the country from collapsing.
’’ We need to stop the bleeding of our finances through speedy actions of fuel subsidy removal. We had no choice but to re-engineer the effectiveness of control and management of our resources in order to meet the obligation owed to Nigerians by politicians. I am standing here reassuring you that I will not relent in working with all of you with available resources,” he said.
‘’You can afford to go under, you can afford to be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries. We can’t just afford the petrol subsidy and it is getting a hold on the foreign exchange. I could say I want to share in the benefits and participate in the arbitrage but God forbid. That is why you elected me and chose me to bring about changes that will benefit not only you but your grandchildren and our tomorrow,” he further said.
President Tinubu thanked and commended every Nigerian who believes in the positive Nigerian project with him, and promised to bring about changes that will benefit all, operate an open door policy as well as re-engineer the financial system of the country to enviable heights.
The President also reiterated his readiness to work with governors to return Nigeria to a resilient economy.
The host, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, promised to join hands with the President’s administration in rebuilding Nigeria to an unprecedented height.
Former minister of works and housing and the former Lagos State Mr. Babatunde Fashola reminded Nugerians of the need to support the president to succeed.
“Nigeria’s presidency is not a one-man job. He should be supported to succeed. Six of his policies in Lagos, as governor, have stood the test of time and have been adopted in other states and so I urge the governors to support policies that will be introduced by the president,” he said.
Dignitaries at the event include Vice President Kashim Shetimma, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, national Assembly members, led by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abass.
Others include Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarrawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Alex Otti (Abia), Fr. Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo).
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, former Governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and former Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, were also at the event.
Business leaders were led by Aliko Dangote and Alhaji Rasak Okoya. Royal fathers of Awori extraction were also present at the grand reception.