PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to give his administration more time to address the country’s longstanding challenges, saying efforts are underway to reverse past mistakes and put Nigeria on a stronger footing.
Tinubu made the appeal in a message delivered by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at a special prayer session held at the National Mosque in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The president said Nigeria’s journey since independence had been marked by both achievements and setbacks, including missed opportunities and problems that accumulated under successive administrations.
He, however, expressed optimism about the country’s direction, saying Nigerians should remain hopeful about the future.
“My message to the country on behalf of the Mr president, the Senate president and all members of the National Assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope,” Abbas said while delivering the president’s message.
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“Peace is coming back to this country. Developm
ent is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy.”
Tinubu said his administration was working to address the shortcomings of previous governments while pursuing opportunities that had not been fully utilised.
He urged Nigerians to assess the government’s efforts within that context.
“More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past – the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past – are being corrected in this particular administration,” he said.
The president also said he believed Nigeria was moving in the right direction and that the sacrifices made by citizens would ultimately contribute to a stronger country.
“And I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path; that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that Nigerians have finished making sacrifices for this country to be great again,” he said.
He subsequently called for continued support for his administration to enable it consolidate and complete its ongoing programmes.
“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work [it has started],” Tinubu said.
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Reflecting on the country’s Independence anniversary, the president described 66 years of nationhood as an important milestone.
“This anniversary—the 66th—by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age,” he said.
He acknowledged the difficulties that have shaped Nigeria’s history while expressing gratitude for the peace and stability that have allowed the country to reach another independence milestone.
The event was attended by senior government officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, state governors, members of the National Assembly, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and military chiefs.Tighten the story for publicationLead with Tinubu’s re-election appeal
