‘Demoralizing’ Comments Made By Relative Before 2023 Presidential Election, Removal Of Petrol Subsidy Not In My Inaugural Speech-Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has talked about the demoralizing comments made by a relative before the 2023 presidential election which almost made him back out of the race.

The president noted that the demoralizing comments were made right in his living room by his relative and he had only stayed the course because he was determined to face the odds.

The relative in question had voiced out the comments as a result of frustration over naira scarcity.

‘I almost dropped the idea of running for President’ President Tinubu said.

Team@orientactualmags.com  learned that the president said this on Saturday night during the special Iftar dinner that was held in his honour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the excerpts of the President’s speech in a statement he issued in Abuja on Sunday while adding that Tinubu also thanked Nigerians for their overwhelming goodwill and prayers on his 73rd birthday.

‘Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns, one came to my living room at about 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just N50,000 to buy foodstuffs for our uncle.

He said to me, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for?’

I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.’ I gave him the N50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it’.

I was amazed. At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me.

When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back’ the president said.

The president also disclosed that the removal of petrol subsidy was not in his inaugural speech, and he had only decided to include it at the venue of inauguration ceremony.

 ‘On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal.

The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared that the subsidy was gone.

The following day, I was hounded and thoroughly abused in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for our nation’s future’ he said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima lauded the President’s leadership style, saying his decisions have helped to tackle issues that haunted previous administrations.

He said, ‘Thanks to his boldness, future presidents of Nigeria will not have to wrestle with the same ghosts that haunted past administrations, including fraud-ridden fuel subsidies, an unstable forex market, and the suppression of local government autonomy.

These were the thorny issues that many before him sidestepped. But Asiwaju did not sidestep history; he came to rewrite it.

And in rewriting it, Asiwaju has taken the bullets that many before him simply lacked the courage to face. But that is the thing about true leadership: it is not for those who seek comfort. It is for those who understand that the path to national greatness is lined with difficult choices’.

Senate President, Barrister  Godswill Akpabio  praised what he called  President Tinubu’s ‘relentless passion for national development’ describing him as the ‘most audacious president’ in the history of the country.

‘If I were a governor under your administration, I would have been a ‘supernatural governor’ and not an ‘uncommon governor’ he said.

One of the president’s childhood friends, Professor Shaffideen Amuwo, recalled their early years, attributing Tinubu’s success in politics to divine providence.

Amuwo said, ‘Our relationship did not just start in Chicago; we played soccer together as children. While I chose the library, my brother chose politics because he loves to speak.

Today, Allah has shown His greatness by guiding him to lead Nigeria.

The city of Chicago, founded by a Black man, has educated the man who now leads the most populous Black nation on earth. I pray that Allah continues to hold his hand and guide him as he works to save our country’ he said.

The event was attended by the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana; members of the Federal Executive Council; principal officers of the National Assembly; current and former governors; diplomats; business leaders; religious figures; and the president’s childhood friends.

 Imam of National Mosque, Abuja, Dr. Abdulkadir Sholagberu prayed and sought divine guidance for the President and the nation at the event-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you