President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the future of the country, assuring that his administration is addressing longstanding challenges, correcting past mistakes and pursuing missed opportunities.
Tinubu made the call on Friday through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at a special prayer session held at the National Mosque in Abuja to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The President acknowledged the difficulties Nigeria had experienced since independence but said the country was gradually moving towards greater peace, development and economic progress.
According to him, attaining 66 years as an independent nation signifies Nigeria’s maturity despite the challenges that have characterised its journey.
“This anniversary—the 66th—by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age,” Abbas quoted Tinubu as saying.
“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.”
Tinubu appealed to citizens not to lose faith in the country, saying his administration was committed to creating the conditions for improved security, development and prosperity.
“My message to the country on behalf of 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.
The President further said his administration was working to reverse the effects of what he described as “cumulative mistakes” and missed opportunities inherited from previous governments.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu maintained that Nigeria was on the right path and urged citizens to give the government more time to consolidate its programmes.
“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 [it has started],” he added.
The special prayer session brought together senior government officials, political leaders and members of the security establishment as part of activities marking the 66th Independence Anniversary.
Those in attendance included Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, state governors, members of the National Assembly, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and senior military officers.
The President’s message centred on continued confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process and his administration’s efforts to address longstanding challenges while pursuing greater security, development and economic growth
