By BASHIR ADEFAKA
President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu received a delegation of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) in State House, Abuja, on Friday.
Speaking during an audience with the delegation, led by the MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, President Tinubu told the South Muslims that sacrifice was required to achieve Nigeria’s restoration.
He said the current challenges facing the nation were only temporary, assuring Nigerians that better days were in the offing.
This was contained in a statement copied to The DEFENDER, issued by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, and dated October 20, 2023.
“We have to believe in one country; we have to believe in Nigeria. We will do our best, and our economy will get better for the benefit of Nigerians. I am very sure of that, and we are putting in the work to ensure that,” the President said.
The President noted that the policies and programmes of his administration are aimed at achieving a fairer, better and honest society where hard work is rewarded and where laziness reaps little.
“It is about our future. We must guarantee our future. Almighty Allah will not give us a burden that we cannot bear. He has put us here for a purpose. It may look difficult; even rough, but it will get better. We avoided it (removing petroleum subsidy) for 40 years. We are all going through the pain now, but for Nigeria not to collapse, we had to remove the subsidy.
“In the history of successful nations, there is nothing more vital than the leadership of a nation taking difficult decisions at the right time and for the right reasons. There would have been no money for the subnationals,” the President declared.
President Tinubu commended the leaders for their prayers and support, assuring them that his administration is determined to empower the youth with skills and create an enabling environment for them to prosper.
The President of the Ummah, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, in company of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola, commended President Tinubu for his courage in removing the petroleum subsidy and for initiating necessary, even if difficult reforms.
“There had been no leader, military, or civilian that could break this hard nut of removing petroleum subsidy for us to grow as a country. You have done it. God will see you through,” Alhaji Oladejo said.
