Victor EzejaPresident Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to change their value system and shun all forms of vices that amount to economic sabotage to enable the country make progress.
He particularly charged the citizens to stop criminal acts involving the destruction of public infrastructure like vandalisation of rail tracks, and bridges, and stealing of electric cables.
According to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Tinubu made the call in Lagos, when he received a delegation from the National Assembly, who came to felicitate with him on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir on Monday evening.
The delegation, led by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, included the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu, among others.
“Good economics at a harsh time is the challenge that we must face. As I said in my speech, no matter how difficult it is and how challenging it can be, I will not turn my back on Nigeria,” the President stated.
President Tinubu challenged citizens to have a change of mindset about Nigeria if the nation is to overcome its current challenges.
“The need (for some citizens) to change the rent-seeking mindset and become more productive to the economy is a challenge. The need to stop smuggling and all economic sabotage.
“Why should we have people removing rail tracks and all that, stealing electric cables and sabotaging the economy? We must embrace the campaign to change our value system. We must tell our people that the challenge we face is for all of us to change our mindset about our country,” President Tinubu said.
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The President commended the leadership of the National Assembly for the support extended to his administration, which has resulted in some of the important developments recorded by his administration.
“It is great pride for me to have the best of partners in the National Assembly. We have to drill down and be all-inclusive in our bid to satisfy our people. It is daunting, but we cannot run away from the fact that this country must survive the hardship,” the President stated.
Tinubu acknowledged the challenges and the task ahead, assuring the nation of his unwavering determination to turn things around.
“Yes, there is poverty; there is suffering in the land. We are not the only people facing such, but we must face our challenges. We must find a way to eliminate banditry and terrorism so that farmers can bring out food from the farmland. If you do not have good roads to bring the food to the population, even if you grow the food and you are losing 60-70 percent to damages, you will pay the price,” Tinubu said.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said he came with the leadership of the National Assembly to pay homage and felicitate with the President on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir and to thank him for the purposeful leadership in the first year of his administration.
On what Nigerians should expect from the legislature in the days ahead, Senator Akpabio said: “Looking forward, the National Assembly will tinker with some existing legislations to further improve on the nation’s ease of doing business.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
