By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that he is currently not thinking about his reelection into office.
The president explained that he is currently working on reforming Nigeria’s economy and putting the country on the right path.
He assured that though his economic reforms seem difficult, a time will come when Nigerians will appreciate his administration for taking tough policies.
Tinubu made this known during the south-west assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which was held on Saturday at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos State.
The event was attended by leaders in the southwest geopolitical zone, including governors, deputy governors, federal and state lawmakers, and former elected officials.
Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented Tinubu at the event, said the tough decisions being made will not only help Nigerians now, it will also help the coming generations.
He said: “We acknowledge that our decisions have been tough, but they needed to be taken. The gains are at the end of the tunnel.
“That time will come when we will all be happy and thank our government for making those decisions. Right now, I am not thinking of the next election but about the next generation.
“This is why we are implementing long overdue reforms. This is the hallmark of a true leader.”
In his address, Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, said the merger that led to the creation of APC in 2013 was the first successful political parties coalition in the country since the first republic.
The former Ekiti governor said since the formation of the party, the APC has stayed united and won elections successively. He added that the party must not take citizens for granted and ensure that wealth-creation programmes are created for the people.
“Our party, particularly in the southwest, should commit to the facilitation of wealth and employment creation for our people,” Fayemi added.
“We must expand social security and skills acquisition policies to enhance human development, embark on wholesale revamp of our education system to ensure it is fit for purpose, and the intensive fostering of measures aimed at expanding inclusivity for those who are objectively marginalised in the polity.
“While we can be proud of the road we have travelled since 2015, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels as a party or be complacent about anything.
“It is imperative that we openly and honestly acknowledge current challenges and develop a coherent and comprehensive plan that can enable us to confront them.”
The New Diplomat reports that Tinubu’s assurance comes amid current economic hardship confronting many Nigerians.
It would be recalled that a hunger protest had erupted on August 1, 2024, where many citizens expressed their frustrations with the state of the nation’s economy.
The protesters had declared that the demonstrations were driven by multiple factors, including the high cost of living, a recent fuel price hike, worsening economic conditions, and dissatisfaction with government policies.
