“We Survived the Storm” — Tinubu Reflects on Political Battles, Economic Recovery

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended members of the Nigeria Governors' Forum for their support and perseverance through what he described as difficult political and economic periods facing the country.

Tinubu spoke on Tuesday during a meeting with governors at his Lagos residence, where he expressed gratitude to the state leaders for remaining steadfast despite pressures and challenges encountered during his presidential campaign and the early stages of his administration.

The President said it was significant that many governors took time away from their states and responsibilities during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations to attend the gathering.

“It is a very great joy because as leaders in your various states and communities, you should ordinarily be at home receiving visitors and paying homage during the festivities. So, finding time to come here this evening is refreshing and a blessing for all of us,” Tinubu said.

He prayed that the sacrifices made during the season would be accepted by Almighty Allah and thanked the governors for their continued support and commitment to national unity.

Reflecting on his journey to the presidency, Tinubu described the 2023 election process as one of the most difficult political battles of his life.

According to him, the struggle for the presidency came with intense pressure, political attacks, litigations and accusations, but he remained resolute throughout the period.

“At the time I faced the challenge of trying to become President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was very challenging. It was tough for those who were in the party with me. Some kept faith. Instead of dodging the bullets, I took them. I took the punch in the chin, a very hard one,” the President stated.

Tinubu said many of the governors and political allies stood by him and took risks because of their belief in the party and its vision for Nigeria.

“We survived. We faced litigations and accusations, and we survived them,” he added.

The President also declared that Nigeria’s economy had begun recovering from earlier difficulties, insisting that reforms introduced by his administration were already yielding positive results.

“Instead of bankruptcy, Nigeria has survived. The economy has recovered. It is growing. Agriculture is humming, food is available and if we continue consistently, we will see greater satisfaction,” Tinubu said.

He pointed to the vast development opportunities along the proposed Sokoto-Badagry corridor, especially in agriculture, irrigation and electricity generation.

“Today, I was watching some clips of the Sokoto-Badagry corridor. Imagine how many dams could be built along that corridor for irrigation, farming and electricity generation,” he noted.

Tinubu praised the governors for helping sustain public confidence in the administration despite economic challenges and reforms.

“Many of you have promoted perseverance among our people and encouraged them to trust this government. You built that trust around my leadership, and I thank you very much,” he said.

The President further expressed gratitude that many state governments were now in a more stable financial position compared to previous years.

“I am glad that out of the 27 governors borrowing from the Federal Government and asking for interventions, we are no longer struggling to pay salaries. No more,” Tinubu declared.

He said he remained grateful to God for the opportunity to work collectively with state leaders in pursuing developmental programmes and national progress.

The meeting formed part of ongoing consultations between the President and State Governors on governance, economic reforms and national development initiatives.