…Thanks Nigerians for Birthday Wishes
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his gratitude to Nigerians for their well wishes as he marked his 73rd birthday, while also revealing that he once considered withdrawing from the 2023 presidential race.
Speaking at a special Iftar held in his honour at the Presidential Villa on Saturday night, Tinubu thanked guests for their presence and prayers, acknowledging the difficulties he faced on his journey to the presidency.
The event was attended by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana Shettima, top government officials, lawmakers, former governors, diplomats, business leaders, and religious figures.
Reflecting on a moment of doubt during his campaign, the President recounted a late-night encounter with a relative who questioned his decision to contest amid Nigeria’s economic crisis.
“Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns, one of them came to my living room around 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just ₦50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle.
“He told me, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have ₦10,000 in cash. What are you running for?’”
Tinubu said he stood firm despite the doubts. “I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.’ I gave him the ₦50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it.’”
The President disclosed that his uncle later confirmed receiving only ₦10,000 from the messenger.
“I was amazed. At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me. When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back’,” he said.
Tinubu also spoke on the bold decisions he made upon assuming office, including the removal of fuel subsidy.
“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal,” he said.
“The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared that the subsidy was gone. The following day, I was hounded and thoroughly abused in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for our nation’s future.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima commended Tinubu’s sacrifices, stating that future leaders would no longer have to contend with issues such as fuel subsidies and foreign exchange instability.
“Thanks to his boldness, future presidents of Nigeria will not have to wrestle with the same ghosts that haunted past administrations, including fraud-ridden fuel subsidies, an unstable forex market, and the suppression of local government autonomy,” Shettima said. “Asiwaju did not sidestep history; he came to rewrite it.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Tinubu’s leadership and ability to forgive, describing him as the “most audacious president” in Nigeria’s history.
“Under Tinubu’s watch, governors are getting more allocation. If I were a governor under your administration, I would have been a ‘supernatural governor’ and not an uncommon governor,” he said.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, highlighted Tinubu’s legacy of mentorship, noting that he had supported leaders beyond regional lines.
“Today, he is at the forefront because Nigeria needs him. In 2019, despite not being from his region, he supported me in my most difficult political moment,” Kalu said.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State commended the President’s firm decision-making, stating that his leadership was stabilising the country.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani, shared how Tinubu appointed him despite his past criticisms of the All Progressives Congress government.
“Before my appointment, I had never met Mr President. But after my confirmation, he told me, ‘I have looked at your records and activism, and I am giving you an opportunity to serve,’” he said.
Professor Shaffideen Adeniyi Amuwo, a childhood friend of the President, spoke of their early years together and Tinubu’s political journey.
“Our relationship did not just start in Chicago; we played soccer together as children. Today, Allah has shown His greatness by guiding him to lead Nigeria,” he said.
The event, marked by reflections on Tinubu’s political journey and governance, also featured prayers led by Dr Abdulkadir Salman Sholagberu, Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, seeking divine guidance for the President and the nation.
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