Tinubu: Starting point won’t be rosy, subsidy removal’ll cause hardship

The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, says the planned removal of fuel subsidy and move to end the high foreign currency exchange rate would lead to initial hardship during his administration.

Tinubu said things might not be as rosy as Nigerians are expecting ahead of his inauguration on Monday, May 29.

The President-elect said this at the 2023 presidential inauguration lecture at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday, May 26.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, however, called for Nigerians’ support for his administration to succeed.

He said: “We are calling on all of you to pray for us for God’s guidance. I want to assure you that Tinubu will hit the ground running.

“We do not have the luxury of time. The challenges facing us are getting worse. We are living in a pressing time.

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“You can rest assured that in the fullness of time, Nigeria will pay glowing tributes to us.

“The starting point might not be rosy; let me be very honest with you.

“Oil subsidy is an albatross on our necks. The multiple exchange rate system is a drain on the national economy.

“There are certain decisions the President-elect will take, but in the fullness of time, Nigerians will not only appreciate but also celebrate us.

“As the Chinese will say, the worst curse that a Chinese man may wish on you is for you to live in interesting times. And indeed, we are living in interesting times.

“But rest assured that in the fullness of time, Nigerians will come to pay glowing tributes to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We’re here — we’re leaders — not because of our intellect. Neither Kashim Shettima nor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu holds any PhD degree.

“We are what we are not because of our physical powers. We are what we are, not because of our political sagacity. There are better politicians.

“Power, to us, will be a humbling experience. It’s an opportunity to serve God and humanity. And whether we accept it or not, we are going to spend more years of our lives outside power than in power,” Shettima stated.

The Star