President Bola Tinubu has stated that he is not in office to accumulate wealth but to work tirelessly for the betterment of Nigeria.
During a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu made this clear.
“I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the votes, and Nigerians gave them to me,” President Tinubu said.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the meeting was attended by 16 former presiding officers, including former Senate Presidents, Speakers of the House of Representatives, and Deputy Leaders.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude for their support, emphasizing the need for continued unity across party lines to achieve national development goals.
Addressing the ongoing challenges faced by Nigerians, President Tinubu said, “Yes, there is hardship, but how did we get here? What did we do when we had very high crude production? We neglected our communities; we neglected the goose that lays the golden eggs; we forgot even to give them a good standard of living.”
“We forgot to educate our children. Go round and look at the dilapidated schools. The education environment must be decent enough for pupils to want to learn. We can complain from now till eternity that the school enrolment is low. But did we do anything to encourage the enrolment process? We must ask ourselves because it is a matter of conscience,” he added.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to improving infrastructure, ensuring financial compliance, exploring alternative energy sources, and providing energy security. “We have come a long way, and I promise we will do our best,” he stated.
He urged the former presiding officers to share their expertise in governance and nation-building, recognizing that they hold unique insights into Nigeria’s current situation.
