*President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has, again, reiterated his commitment to restructuring Nigeria in a manner that every citizen will experience good governance.*
The President restated this while playing host to Yoruba Elders who paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja onTuesday, April 17, 2024 as disclosed by Comrade Jare Ajayi, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere shortly after the visit.
The delegation was led by Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, OFR, the Afenifere Leader who is also Asiwaju Yoruba. On the entourage of Pa Fasoranti were leaders from all Yoruba speaking states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti and Lagos including Kwara and Kogi States.
President Tinubu while responding to the address presented by Oba Olu Falae on behalf of Chief Fasoranti, started his speech by saying that he was highly impressed by the visit as it made him to be emotional. He had earlier described the coming of Afenifere to him in Abuja as ‘a defining moment’.
On the specific issues raised by Afenifere Leader, the President said:
“I have listened to your advocacy (on Restructuring etc). What you believe in is what I believe in…Constitutional democracy is being reflected since we took over.”
He stated that there is a pressing need to lay a solid foundation for an enduring project like Restructuring.
Specifically, President Tinubu declared that the economy of the country needs to be re-tuned, revamped and re-engineered.
When the economy is properly on a firm footing, steps will be taken on restructuring so that it would be on a solid foundation.
“As I said in Akure, our approach to it would be as if a baby is learning how to walk. If the baby is rushed, it way fall. Because we don’t want to fall, and because we are not going to fail, we want to do it and do it right”.
President Tinubu was emphatic that banditry and kidnapping will be defeated. He indicated that Nigeria has been taken from the hands of terrorists who hoist their flags in some areas adding that they resorted to banditry and kidnapping because they have been dislodged.
“The banditry and kidnapping they resorted to will be roundly defeated. We are taking the battle to them.”
The Commander-in-Chief seized the opportunity to restate that his government is not paying ransom to kidnappers before those who were kidnapped were freed. Maintaining that mining sites have attracted a lot of scavenging and banditry, Tinubu disclosed that forest guards are being set up to effectively provide security in mining sites etc.
Also commenting on the social welfare that Afenifere Leader raised, the president said that education is an effective weapon against poverty. Which is why government has come up with students loan policy.
“We are equally exploring what to do to tackle high degree of unemployment. We are coming up with a policy to enable vulnerable parents whose graduate children are unemployed.
“We are coming up with an ‘Unemployment Compensation’ to be paid who have completed their youth services but are not without jobs.
President Tinubu also announced that Consumer Credit system will be introduced so as to reduce the propensity for desperation to amass wealth for the purpose of raising money to acquire properties and other things money is used for.
Earlier in his address, Afenifere Leader had expressed appreciation to God for answering the prayers for Asiwaju Tinubu to become President of Nigeria. He also spoke on issues of restructuring, security, social welfare for Nigerians, unemployment, infrastructure in the South West etc.
A special request was made to have the Federal College of Agriculture, Kabba in Kogi State to be upgraded into a University as those established at the same time with it in 1963 have been upgraded into Universities.
In the entourage of Pa Fasoranti were HRM, Oba Olu Falae, GCON, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, OFR, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Segun Mimiko, Otunba Dr Samuel Ibikunle, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, Obaro of Kabba, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, Olugbon of Orile-Igbon and Honourable Korede Duyile.
Others were Honourable Lekan Alabi, Rt. Honourable Akin Onigbinde, SAN, Prince Alonge, Agbaakin Ademola Folarin, Chief Demi Aluko, Chief Deji Wellington, Abagun Kole Omololu, Chief Dare Babarinsa, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, Capt. Adekunle Raji (rtd), Mr. Abiola Adedapo Adeyemi, Mr. Ayo Olasunkanmi and Comrade Jare Ajayi.
With President Tinubu to receive Afenifere delegation were the Chief of Staff, Barrister Femi Gbajabiamila, Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Mineral Resources, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Chief Ajuri Ngelale amongst others.
