Ajirioghene Imah
President Bola Tinubu has explained reason he chose not to maintain the multiple foreign exchange systems and benefit from it, but opted to unify the official and parallel market rates to save the country from financial hemorrhage.
Tinubu made this disclosure while speaking at a civic reception organised in his honour by the Lagos State Government at the Lagos House, Marina.
According to him, it was imperative to take those decisive actions in the early days of his administration as it was in the nation’s best interest just like he did with fuel subsidy removal.
In his words, “I could afford to share the benefit by participating in the arbitrage, but God forbid! That’s not why you voted for me,” he said.
“We need to take the steps to stop the bleeding of our finances through speedy action on fuel subsidy. We have no choice,” he said.
The President used the opportunity to solicit the support of governors present at the event to work with him in ensuring even development of the country, adding that the government would re-engineer the effectiveness of the control and management of resources in order to meet the obligations to Nigerians by political officeholders.
“We will work together with an open door policy. We will bring Nigeria from the brink to a resilient economy. I want us to be partners so that we can rescue our land and make it a born-again nation.
“The assignment is greater than the love of the living room. We got to do the job,” he said.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who spoke on behalf of members of the National Assembly, thanked President Tinubu for his leadership in smoothening the take-off of the 10th National Assembly.
“You will succeed. Nigerians are proud of you and the National Assembly is here for you 100 percent. We will do whatever is legislatively possible to make you succeed,” Akpabio said.
The event was also attended by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Speaker of House Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Special Advisers, among others.
