*Blasts past administrations: ‘Years of neglect and self-deception, fake records, smuggling, and all of that denied Nigeria the necessary revenue for progress and development’
*“Then we were confronted again with arbitrage trading of currency, an illusion of selling papers, corruption all over the place, the integrity of the country and its economy being extremely and adversely challenged”
*“We established NELFUND to ensure that no student would drop out of school in Nigeria due to poverty”
*BY ADEDAYO SHEFIU/STATE Correspondent, Aso Villa, Abuja, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER Inc USA
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu tongue-lashed past governments in the country for entrenching corruption and maladministration due to inept and greed. He gave a thumps-up under his leadership for stabilising the economy of Africa’s most populous black nation in the world.
Tinubu made this revelation on Tuesday as he reassured that his administration’s bold economic reforms aim to restore Nigeria to its enviable position, having seen favourable results.
To him, the country’s economy is now stable and attracting interest from around the world.
His words: “The bleeding has stopped. Hemorrhage is gone; the patient is alive”.
Tinubu said this when he received the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye, Orumogege III, in audience with some other royal fathers, at the State House, Abuja.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed details of the meeting in a statement he signed on Wednesday titled ‘In just two years, Nigeria is now respected globally.’
President Tinubu said, “Years of neglect and self-deception, fake records, smuggling, and all of that denied Nigeria the necessary revenue for progress and development.
“Then we were confronted again with arbitrage trading of currency, an illusion of selling papers, corruption all over the place, and the integrity of the country and its economy being extremely and adversely challenged.
“We had to take those actions. With your prayers, patience, perseverance and great understanding, I’m glad to tell you today that the economy is stabilised.”
The President also said the establishment of NELFUND was to ensure that no student would drop out because of poverty.
He affirmed that everybody has a right to education as it is the “greatest weapon you can give to human beings against poverty.”
“That’s what we are doing. We have remained aggressive on our infrastructure. And it’s just two years,” he said.
President Tinubu thanked the monarch for crediting his administration with the bold decisions taken immediately upon resumption of office.
He noted that the people of Ogbomosoland were already feeling the modernisation and transformation introduced by the monarch, who promised to strengthen traditional institutions.
The President also promised to engage the Ministers of Power, Water Resources, Agriculture, and Works to look into the visiting monarch’s requests, stating they can make Nigeria self-sufficient in agriculture.
The Soun commended the President for his incredible strides, which “only a bold leader could have recorded. Removing fuel subsidy has shown us that it is the right decision, and we can see the effects.”
Oba Olaoye said the foreign exchange reforms and introduction of NELFUND had made it easier for many students to continue their schooling without considering dropping out.
The monarch also commended the President for awarding the contract for dualisation of the Oyo-Ogbomosho Road, which had been abandoned for decades, pointing out that the road would spur economic activities as a significant gateway to the North.
The paramount ruler, however, requested the President’s intervention in the water and power supply in Ogbomoso, the upgrading of the General Hospital in the town into a Federal Medical Centre, as well as the establishment of a research institute to enhance the development and transformation of the famous ‘Ogbomoso mangoes and cashew nuts’ into a viable agricultural enterprise.
Oba Olaoye thanked the President for appointing Ogbomoso sons to his administration, notably the Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, and the DG of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Debo Adedokun.
On the entourage of the Soun of Ogbomosoland were five other kings representing the five councils in Ogbomoso land, namely Samuel Otolorin, the Areago of Ogbomosoland; Oba Oyetunji Adeyeye, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa; Oba Bolarinwa Olajide, the Onisapa of Isapa; Oba Babatunde Amao, the Aale Oke-elerin, and Oba Prof. Akinola John Akintola, the Olokin-apa of Okin-apa.
Other High Chiefs were Ogundare Rebecca, Iyalode of Ogbomosoland; Prof. Sola Adepoju, former DG Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria; Tunji Olaniyi, a businessman; and Abdul Ganiyu Owodunni, the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland.
Also present was the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, a prominent ‘son of the soil’ who doubles as the Agbaakin of Ogbomoso land.
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