President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday met with South-West Muslim Leaders led by Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, in Abuja, telling them that the current challenges facing Nigeria are only temporary, assuring that better days are in the offing.
“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, 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.