President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that his primary goal in office is to serve Nigerians diligently and not to exploit his position for personal gain, Okay.ng reports.
The President made this statement during a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly at the Aso Rock Villa on Friday, September 20, 2024. The Forum was led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani and comprised 16 former presiding officers, including former Senate presidents, Speakers, and deputy presiding officers from both legislative chambers.
Tinubu expressed his gratitude for the support he has received from the Forum members, regardless of party affiliations, and emphasized the importance of collaboration in moving Nigeria forward.
“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,” Tinubu said in a statement shared by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The President reiterated his administration’s focus on improving infrastructure, ensuring food and energy security, enhancing education, and fostering long-term economic stability. He also reflected on the current challenges facing the nation and emphasized the need for collaboration, inclusiveness, and financial reforms to build a better future.
“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. I thank you very much; no one will do it better than us,” Tinubu told the Forum members.
“I have travelled the world and seen how developed countries have done it for themselves through collaboration, inclusiveness, and financial structure.”
Addressing the hardships faced by Nigerians, Tinubu pointed to the nation’s past mistakes, particularly in neglecting communities during periods of high crude oil production and failing to invest adequately in education and social services.
“Yes, there is hardship, but how did we get here? What did we do when we had very high crude production? We neglected our communities; we neglected the goose that lays the golden eggs; we forgot even to give them a good standard of living,” he said.
“We forgot to educate our children. Go around and look at the dilapidated schools. The education environment must be decent enough for pupils to want to learn. 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.”
