By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has said that though there is poverty and suffering in the country, Nigeria is not the only nation facing such a situation.
The President also said that good economics at a harsh time is the challenge that his administration must face, adding that no matter how difficult and how challenging it could be, he will not turn his back on Nigeria.
Tinubu, who spoke in Lagos when he received a delegation from the National Assembly that came to felicitate with him on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir late Monday, urged citizens to embrace a new value system to make progress.
*Warns against rail tracks vandalisation, stealing of electric cables
He cautioned against vandalisation of rail tracks and stealing of electric cables, saying that such acts are pure sabotage
According to him, “Yes, there is poverty; there is suffering in the land. We are not the only people facing such, but we must face our challenges. We must find a way to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers can bring out food from the farmland.
“If you do not have good roads to bring the food to the population, even if you grow the food and you are losing 60-70 percent to damages, you will pay the price.”
President Tinubu contended that Nigerians must have a change of value system if the nation is to make progress.
The delegation, led by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, included the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau; and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, among others.
“Good economics at a harsh time is the challenge that we must face. As I said in my speech, no matter how difficult it is and how challenging it can be, I will not turn my back on Nigeria,” the President stated.
Tinubu challenged citizens to have a change of mindset about Nigeria if the nation is to overcome its current challenges.
“The need (for some citizens) to change the rent-seeking mindset and become more productive to the economy is a challenge—the need to stop smuggling and all economic sabotage.
“Why should we have people removing rail tracks and all that, stealing electric cables, and sabotaging the economy? We must embrace the campaign to change our value system. We must tell our people that the challenge we face is for all of us to change our mindset about our country,” Tinubu said.
The President commended the leadership of the National Assembly for the support extended to his administration, which has resulted in some of the important developments recorded by his administration.
“It is a great pride for me to have the best of partners in the National Assembly. We have to drill down and be all-inclusive in our bid to satisfy our people. It is daunting, but we cannot run away from the fact that this country must survive the hardship,” the President stated.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said he came with the leadership of the National Assembly to pay homage and felicitate with the President on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir and to thank him for the purposeful leadership in the first year of his administration.
On what Nigerians should expect from the legislature in the days ahead, Senator Akpabio said: “Looking forward, the National Assembly will tinker with some existing legislations to further improve on the nation’s ease of doing business.”
After meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, the President proceeded to a meeting with the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
