…Makes case for less privileged
…Arrives Lagos 29 days after inauguration for festival
…As Buhari says, “leading Nigeria one of the hardest challenges in life”
…Akpabio, others solicit patience, support for Tinubu’s administration
President Bola Tinubu has said the struggling economy and simmering security problems bewildering the Country “are not insurmountable.”
President Tinubu, who in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians on Tuesday made a case for the less privileged, affirmed that his administration is working to ease their daily lives and procure a better future.
“At the moment, our country is going through some challenges, especially with our struggling economy and simmering security challenges.
“While I acknowledge all of these, I want to assure you that they are not insurmountable.
“I am working day and night with my team, fleshing out solutions. We have started with the decisions taken so far, to reform our economy and remove all impediments to growth,” he assured.
Tinubu said as all Nigerians embrace the present challenges, they must face the future with vigour and Renewed Hope with the confidence that the country’s tomorrow will be better and brighter.
President Tinubu called for goodwill towards remembering the less fortunate in the celebration.
“As we immerse ourselves in the joy of this moment and celebrate, let us remember those who may not be as fortunate like us,” Tinubu said in his maiden Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians titled ‘We must multiply out good deeds.’
Coming as the end of religious activities spanning the first 10 days of the Islamic Month of Dhul Hijjah, Tinubu said Eid-el-Kabir is an opportunity for Muslims to show mercy and compassion to their fellow humans.
“There is no greater sense of duty ever recorded in history outside the ennobling example of Prophet Ibrahim in offering his only son Ismail as sacrifice to Allah,” the President stated.
He reasoned that the best way by which worshippers can demonstrate this example is in how they conduct themselves in relation to their fellow citizens and in their duties to their beloved country.
“We must imbibe and manifest those values inherent in Prophet Ibrahim’s life, namely, complete devotion to Allah, tolerance, patience, perseverance, selflessness, love and compassion,” Tinubu advised.
He called for increased kindness among the faithful, saying, “Let us endeavour to multiply good deeds with our kindness to our fellow Muslims and others by helping and supporting the weak and vulnerable in our communities. By so doing, we showcase the values and virtues of our faith,” he added.
Arrives Lagos from London
Tinubu, on Tuesday evening, arrived in Lagos from London ahead of Wednesday’s Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, which he would observe in his home State, Lagos.
Tinubu’s Gulfstream jet arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at 05:05 pm local time where he was welcomed by a waiting crowd of supporters.
This concludes his one-week trip to Paris—where he attended a summit for A New Global Financing Pact hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron—and London, for a private visit.
Leading Nigeria one of the hardest challenges in life — Buhari
Meanwhile, immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari has said that leading a country like Nigeria is one of the hardest challenges in life.
Buhari, who stated this in his Sallah message via a statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, urged Nigerians to fully support the administration of his successor, President Tinubu to succeed.
According to him, “Leading a country like Nigeria is one of the hardest challenges in life and I urge Nigerians to fully support the Tinubu Administration to succeed.
“Leadership is a challenging task that demands the sacrifices and support of the citizens.”
Lawmakers solicit patience, support for Tinubu’s administration
Meanwhile, lawmakers in the Country have called for support towards the Tinubu’s administration, amidst the premising challenges.
In their respective messages, lawmakers took turns to urge Nigerians to be patient and unite solidly behind the present government to surmount the present challenges.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who specifically greeted Nigerians and President Tinubu, pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with the new administration and give it their full support to take Nigeria out of the woods.
“As we join our Muslim brethren to observe this day, the essence of the season, which underscores our submission to the will of the Almighty God and the importance of sacrifice in our daily lives, should not be lost on us.
“I salute the resilience and patriotism of Nigerians in the face of the current challenges facing our nation. We should all see it as part of the process of nation-building,” he said.
Akpabio also applauded the president for taking some bold steps in the direction of reviving the economy.
The Senate President said: “In just a few weeks since his inauguration, President Tinubu has taken some bold steps which have been globally acclaimed as being in the right direction.
“Even though the measures bring with them some inconveniences, I earnestly appeal to fellow Nigerians to look at the larger picture of the expected outcomes, be patient with the new government and give it their full support to take Nigeria out of the woods.
“The 10th National Assembly will do its utmost to provide President Tinubu-led government complementary support through necessary legislative interventions for the benefit of Nigerians. We will, in the process, ensure inclusivity, fairness and justice for Nigerians through legislation.”
On his part, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) who hammered on the security situation in the Country said: “I am aware that the last few weeks have been periods of uncertainty, fear and series of attacks by bandits and gunmen that have made life very unbearable for a lot of our people, resulting also in their inability to perform their fundamental rights to freedom as enshrined in our constitution and apart from losing their loved ones, some were maimed.
“However, I assure you that the government is on top of the situation, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown the capacity to tackle the mirage of problems facing many parts of the country.
“The appointment of new service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police, I am sure, will soon add impetus to the fight against insecurity in parts of our state and the country in general.
“While the Service Chiefs settle down to their assignments, I implore you to be more security conscious this period and after.
“As we celebrate this Eid Kabir, I charge you to continue to have faith in the governments at state and federal levels and pray for continued peace and progress of our leaders, state and country.”
On his part, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) averred that no nation parading the emblem of religious fanaticism would ever achieve prosperity, stating the time was ripe for people of diverse religious inclinations to focus on the project Nigeria and exhibit their desires to contribute to its radical development.
Senator Bamidele stated that the current government being steered by Tinubu had promised to make Nigeria a great and prosperous nation, reminding that stoking of religious intolerance could quake the foundation being laid by the present administration.
“As we celebrate, let us remember that we have a duty to make this country safe and prosperous for all of us and this can only be accomplished with unanimity of purpose and convergence of thoughts and ideas.
“President Tinubu came with the popular mantra of a Renewed Hope and this has started manifesting through the deft political steps he has taken to mend the already cracked and widened ethnic and religious faultlines.
“This manifested in the way he supported Senator Godswill Akpabio to emerge as Senate President and magnanimously ceded the Secretary to the Government of the Federation slot to Christians to balance the Muslim-Muslim ticket at the presidency.
“All the President needs from all Nigerians as the father of the nation, is a coalition of efforts with him for the realisation of his promise to bring prosperity to the doorstep of every Nigerian, which will impact our lives positively, irrespective of religious leanings,” he said.