President defends reforms, rallies youths for 2027 re-election; Shettima says economy would have collapsed without tough decisions

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

President Bola Tinubu has defended his decision to remove petrol subsidy, declaring that he has no regrets and that Nigeria cannot return to what he described as the country’s troubled economic past.

Speaking on Monday at a political gathering organised by the City Boy Movement and the “Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria” movement at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu urged his supporters to sustain their backing for his administration, insisting that the country was moving in the right direction despite the economic difficulties Nigerians continue to face.

The event, titled “Together Till 2027: An Evening with Original City Boy,” also featured a tribute to his son, Seyi Tinubu, who is the patron of the City Boy Movement, a political support group campaigning for the President’s re-election in 2027.

“When I walked into this hall, I did not see a crowd. I saw Nigeria. I saw why I ran for the presidency of this country. I saw why I wake up every morning to work. Now, I have no regret,” the President said, thanking his supporters for standing by him through what he described as three difficult years.

Defending the removal of petrol subsidy, Tinubu drew an analogy with the biblical account of Moses and the Israelites’ departure from Egypt, arguing that the country must resist calls to reverse the policy. “You cannot ask Moses to go back to Egypt. We wake up with ideas, original thoughts and deep thinking to move this country forward. With your energy and support, we will never go back to Egypt,” he declared.

Tinubu maintained that Nigeria’s economy was on a recovery path, citing economic growth in China as an encouraging sign of the broader economic environment. He insisted that the country must continue with reforms, adding that the national interest should take precedence over individual political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general election.

“Nigeria must win this election before any candidate does. You are not campaigning for me. You are campaigning for your own future, and that future is Renewed Hope. There is nothing that will push us back,” he said.

The President acknowledged the difficult economic conditions he inherited, recalling that the country faced financial constraints, mounting obligations to airlines and dwindling foreign reserves. He also criticised the previous practice of excessive currency printing, saying his administration had taken responsibility for inherited liabilities and introduced reforms to address structural weaknesses in the economy.

According to him, the government has undertaken tax reforms and sought to improve the education sector, including efforts to end the recurring strikes that disrupt university calendars. He said the administration had also prioritised access to higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that more than one million students had received support through the scheme.

Tinubu praised the City Boy Movement for building a political structure with a presence across states, local governments, wards and polling units. He said the group had also established a call centre to engage young Nigerians and a care initiative to reach members in their communities.

He commended Seyi Tinubu for mobilising young people without seeking a political office or title, but urged him to intensify his efforts. “You have only started. Do more, not less. Serve harder. Set an example that your own children, my grandchildren, will be proud to follow,” the President said.

Tinubu also urged young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participate in the electoral process and communicate the administration’s achievements and plans to voters. He maintained that the government was committed to improving living conditions, insisting that the removal of petrol subsidy was necessary because the country could no longer sustain the payments.

Earlier, Vice President Kashim Shettima defended the administration’s economic policies, arguing that the country could have faced a deeper crisis if Tinubu had not taken what he described as difficult but necessary decisions.

Shettima said the President’s reforms had helped reposition the economy, citing reported growth of 4.43 per cent in the last quarter and foreign reserves hovering around $60 billion. He argued that the figures demonstrated progress, despite the hardship experienced by households and businesses.

The Vice President acknowledged that Nigerians had endured difficult economic conditions but insisted that the situation could have been worse without the reforms. He urged citizens to assess the administration’s policies against the economic challenges it inherited rather than condemn the government outright.

Shettima also promised that the President would introduce further measures to address agricultural challenges and bring down food prices in the coming weeks. He cited investments in infrastructure and student financing as part of the government’s efforts to improve economic opportunities.

Addressing young Nigerians, the Vice President urged them to communicate the administration’s position to the public, saying they should take the message of economic reform and Renewed Hope to communities across the country.

In his remarks, Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Francis Shoga, declared that Nigerian youths were prepared to mobilise in support of the administration’s transformation agenda.

Shoga said the movement would continue to inform, engage and empower young people to participate in national development, describing its members as supporters of national unity and the government’s Renewed Hope agenda.

He added that the group intended to promote patriotism, encourage responsible civic participation and mobilise young Nigerians ahead of the next general election.

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