Tinubu to Nigerians: Give me more time to finish reforms

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to give his administration more time to complete the reforms and programmes it has initiated, assuring citizens that the country is on the right path.

Tinubu made the appeal on Friday through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who represented him at a special Juma’at prayer held at the National Mosque in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

Abbas conveyed the President’s message of hope to Nigerians, saying the administration was working to address challenges inherited from previous governments and reverse what it described as accumulated mistakes and missed opportunities.

He said, “This anniversary, the 66th, by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age. The person of 66 years cannot be called a child anymore. Nigeria has become mature, even though when we reflect on the journey from independence to date, we may say it was a mixed journey.

“Nigeria was bedevilled with a lot of issues in the past and opportunities as well. But we thank Almighty Allah for granting us the life and the peace for us to witness this very historic event today.”

The President called on citizens not to abandon hope in the country’s economic recovery, maintaining that continued implementation of the government’s reforms would bring improvements in peace, development and national prosperity.

Abbas said the administration was focused on correcting problems that had accumulated over successive governments while urging Nigerians to remain patient with the ongoing process.

“My message to the country on behalf of the Mr President, the Senate President and all members of the National Assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope.

“Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy,” he said.

Tinubu also maintained that Nigerians had made significant sacrifices for the country and asked citizens to continue giving his administration the opportunity to complete its agenda.

He added, “More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past—the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past—are being corrected in this particular administration.

“And I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path; that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that Nigerians have finished making sacrifices for this country to be great again.

“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work.”

The special prayer formed part of the activities lined up by the Federal Government ahead of the October 1 Independence anniversary.

The 66th Independence Anniversary is being marked on a low-key basis, with religious and civic engagements scheduled as part of the celebrations.