President Bola Tinubu has disclosed that old beneficiaries of the removal of fuel subsidy by his government are ready to work against people-oriented policies being implemented by the current administration at the centre.
He, however, assured Nigerians that he will overcome the sinister activities of the economic saboteurs through good governance and firm commitment to the citizenry.
Speaking at a meeting with the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja on Friday, the President said: “As we are fighting corruption, smugglers, and old subsidy beneficiaries, they most certainly will fight back. All those who falsified records and became losers with the subsidy (on petroleum products) removal, they will fight back. But we will defend our people”.
President Tinubu stressed that his administration is deploying resources to critical sectors and areas with significant impact on the welfare of Nigerians, emphasizing that the nation’s treasury is sacrosanct and must not be abused.
His words: “The treasury belongs to the people, and that sacred trust must not be abused”.
The President assured Nigerians that his government is working around the clock to improve their living conditions, and asked leaders at the grassroots level to encourage citizens to get their National Identification Number (NIN) for planning, structuring interventions and to achieve their full integration into various relief programmes.
He said: “I urge the state chairmen that regardless of party affiliation, let us help citizens by mobilizing them for NIN registration. Not just PVCs. Some are poor Nigerians who have not experienced formal education and have no understanding of what NIN is and how it will benefit their lives. We must teach them. We must care for them.
“Without NIN, we can not embark on social security interventions for the vulnerable. We will be making faulty moves without accurate data and iron-clad, digital intervention structures. I have established a committee of governors, and it is headed by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima. It is working on what must be done to further lift our people.
“We need to give hope, and we are giving it to the country and our citizens. We are working hard, day and night, even though some agents of destabilization are present in the polity. Nigerians, with our focused support, shall defeat them.
“The programme of our government will be truly progressive; student loans, a national consumer credit system, and social welfare for the unemployed, as well as graduates. Every Nigerian will find a place of belonging in our country. In the eye of even the biggest hurricane, we will find that place of tranquility and prosperous harmony for the benefit of all. Nigerians will all partake on this national journey to prosperity,’’ the President said.
Emphasizing the central role of agriculture in expanding and accelerating Nigeria’s economic growth, President Tinubu told the state party chairmen, led by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, that his government had already drawn up a blueprint for large-scale livestock farming, which will be activated soon.
According to him: “We are bringing mechanized farming to the fore. Yesterday’s crisis will become today’s opportunity. Fertilizers are being supplied to farmers as we speak. Agriculture and economic diversification provide the answers to our problems. We will not continue to import food. We know how to turn lack into abundance, and the world will watch us do it again”.
President Tinubu emphasized that the repositioning of the economy is a top national priority as he urged party members not to wait for an appointment before bringing good governance and exemplary civic engagement to the doors of Nigerians.
Earlier in his speech, APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, said the party is nearly set to establish the Progressive Institute of Policy and Development for the benefit of its members and the broader Nigerian public. The Forum of APC State Chairmen also congratulated the President on his victory at the polls, tribunal, and Supreme Court while assuring him of their continued support as his administration implements its economic programmes.
Speaking with newsmen after themeeting with the President, the Forum of State Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) advised President Tinubu to wield the big stick against any security chief not living up to expectation in the fight against insecurity across the country.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of other Chairmen, Secretary of the Forum and Chairman of Cross River state chapter of APC, Alphonsus Oga Eba, said the issue of insecurity in the country was discussed during the meeting.
Responding to a question on recent kidnappings especially in Kaduna state, Eba said: “On the question of the kidnap of pupils in Kaduna State, yes it forms one of the issues about the general insecurity in the country that we raised as a matter of concern to Mr. President.
“We said we are more concerned because from our vintage position, it is very clear there are a lot of distractions going on in this country. There are activities of criminals that are being perpetrated to put the government and our party in bad light. We have commended Mr. President for the support, moral and financial that he has given to security agencies.
“But we came with one humble advice that we gave to Mr. President today as forum of chairmen to say that nobody expects Mr. President as Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to carry arms and go to the battlefield.
“That is why he has his lieutenants, as security agencies in various areas and what we have told Mr. President today, by way of advice, is that it is time for people to be held accountable for the actions.
“Where a district police officer or a commissioner of police or whoever that is in control of whatever security architecture at whatever level is found wanting, Mr. President should wield the big stick. That was part of what we discussed today.”
Asked whether the issue of the crisis in Edo State over the recently conducted gubernatorial primaries was discussed, Eba, said, “Edo State issue came up yesterday (Thursday) in our meeting. We discussed it extensively. We had reached some conclusions, but it was not one of the issues we discussed with Mr. President today because there are still internal party affairs that we are rising up from here now to continue a meeting with the national Chairman of our party and the NWC.
“Issues around Edo as you are aware are already in the public glare are just but a storm in a tea cup and will be resolved at that level of the party leadership. So we did not discuss that with Mr. President.”
Also responding to a question on government’s performance assessment, the APC Chairmen cautioned against premature judgment, noting that it’s too early to evaluate the administration’s effectiveness within nine months despite the party’s previous tenure in power over eight years ago
The chairmen commended the administration’s economic policies and assure Nigerians of meaningful reforms
The Forum of APC Chairmen which had 33 members out of 37 present at the meeting with the President, said members were on a solidarity visit to the Nigerian leader and to discuss issues of national importance.
They further submitted that they also proffered some strategies of tackling the myriad of challenges bedevilling the country.
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
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