Working with President a masterclass in decisive leadership, says Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen and governors hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, saying it has significantly increased
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen and governors hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, saying it has significantly increased funds available to states and accelerated development at the subnational level.
The leaders spoke during activities marking the President’s 74th birthday. They said the economic policies by the Tinubu administration had put the country on the path of economic recovery.
Vice President Shettima described the occasion as a reflection of the President’s enduring commitment to national service.
“It’s a celebration of service to humanity. It’s a celebration of forgiveness, of resilience, of commitment to the common good. We are wishing him, on behalf of a grateful nation, many more years of meritorious service to humanity,” Shettima said.
The Vice-President had, in a statement, described his experience working with President Tinubu as “a masterclass in decisive governance and principled leadership.”
He said Tinubu’s leadership style, marked by a blend of empathy, firmness, vision and pragmatism, has continued to inspire those privileged to serve alongside him.
“Mr. President, working alongside you has been a masterclass in decisive governance and principled leadership. Your capacity to balance empathy with firmness, vision with pragmatism, continues to inspire those of us privileged to serve with you,” the Vice President stated.
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Shettima described him as a leader whose Renewed Hope Agenda is steadily repositioning Nigeria on the path of sustainable prosperity.
According to him, the past year has recorded notable economic progress under Tinubu’s administration, with improvements in key indicators.
“This past year has witnessed remarkable economic milestones under your purposeful leadership. Our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has accelerated beyond projections, inflation trends show sustained decline, and foreign direct investment has surged to levels unseen in years,” he said.
The Vice President also hailed Tinubu’s commitment to infrastructure development, noting that ongoing investments are laying a solid foundation for long-term economic growth.
“Your resolute focus on infrastructure development is creating the arteries of commerce that will power Nigeria’s prosperity for generations to come,” he added.
Shettima highlighted the President’s courage in pursuing reforms, even when they require difficult decisions, saying such choices would ultimately define his place in history.
“Beyond policy and economics, what distinguishes your leadership is an uncommon fortitude: the willingness to make difficult choices today for a better tomorrow. History will record that you chose the path of reform over the comfort of populism,” he said.
Offering prayers for the President, the Vice President asked for divine guidance and strength for Tinubu to continue steering the nation’s transformation.
“As you mark this special day, my prayer is that Almighty Allah grant you robust health, renewed vigour, and continued wisdom to complete the vital work of national transformation you have begun,” Shettima stated.
Senate President Akpabio, while offering prayers for the President, emphasised the synergy between the Executive and Legislature, noting that the administration inherited a fragile economy but is making steady progress.
“We wish him good health. We wish him peace of mind. And we pray that Almighty God will continue to endow him with wisdom, with a sound mind, and with the tolerance that he has exhibited so far,” Akpabio said.
He added that reforms have strengthened fiscal federalism, enabling states to access more resources for development.
“The relationship between the legislature and the executive has been very cordial… We met a very bad economy, and, therefore, the process of getting out of it has to be everybody’s business. States are getting more funds now for development, and many states are not borrowing. They are very excited that true federalism is being upheld. So we are sure that we are on the right path,” Akpabio stated.
Speaker Tajudeen described the President’s milestone as significant, noting that his leadership comes at a critical time in the nation’s history.
“It is indeed a day of history, a day of joy for all of us in the National Assembly… With the accomplishments he has been bringing to this dear country, it is our candid prayer that Mr President will continue to be guided by the will of Allah and that the best of him is yet to come,” he said.
Governors, led by Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, credited Tinubu’s policies with driving transformation across states.
“The courage of Mr President is unprecedented. We see light at the end of the tunnel. The economy is turning around because of investment in infrastructure,” AbdulRazaq said.
They urged Nigerians to look beyond the centre to see the impact of reforms at the state level.
“You should go to the states, go to the sub-nationals… The transformation is phenomenal. And all this is because of the increased revenue brought about by the policies of Mr President. The policies are working,” the governors added.
They noted that investments in agriculture are beginning to lower food prices.
The governors also commended Tinubu’s recent decision to donate his salary to a fund supporting victims within the armed forces, describing it as a demonstration of compassionate leadership.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the Tinubu administration has introduced bold and innovative policies that are already repositioning the economy.
“The President, since he assumed office, has introduced a lot of bold policies, reforming the economy, giving new directions… Our country has gradually changed for the better,” he said.
