President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tasked governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to double their efforts in delivering more development at the grassroots, cautioning that many Nigerians remain dissatisfied with the pace of governance and the benefits of democracy.
Speaking at the 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC, held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu urged party leaders and elected officials to strengthen grassroots party leadership.
He also called on them to reconnect with citizens and intensify efforts to improve their welfare.
Acknowledging the widespread votes of confidence passed on him by party stakeholders across the zones, the President emphasised that the strength and future of the APC lie in its performance at the grassroots, where citizens engage directly with government policies and service delivery.
“To me, I will say that with the space that we have created to allow the aspiring people to join us, our doors are still open and we should embrace them whole heartedly we might form the party of elders as the new chairman wishes should form a committee of National working members to go around the states and country and ensure that those who had join us enjoy the registration of our party without any difficulty,” the President said.
President Tinubu highlighted that such support must be matched with greater unity, commitment, and service across all levels of government.
“I am deeply grateful for the confidence vote expressed today and the ones already expressed at the zonal chapters to meet regularly to strengthen our grassroots mobilization and unity we need to do that, Nigerians are still complaining at grassroots, to you the Governors, You have to wet the grass more and lead the way in delivering progressive change to Nigerians,” the President added.
The President announced the construction of a new national secretariat for the All Progressives Congress party in Abuja, tasking the committee to find an appropriate and befitting site for the secretariat.
“We should leave a legacy of development, and the governors are here, 23 of them, to help identify with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and we should put a committee together of progressive Governors to find an appropriate land for a befitting secretariat, he added.
Speaking on Nigeria’s resuscitating economy, President Tinubu acknowledged the challenges of navigating through a period of economic instability.
He assured Nigerians that the economy is now stable, emphasising that there is no longer cause for fear.
Instead, the country is on an upward trajectory, with sustained growth firmly in place.
“We have seen the trend of economic trajectories, and I promise you that as the President, I will continue to work harder and make sure that the essence of our party is not forgotten.
“I thank all of you outside there; it is not easy to navigate the stormy water of economic instability. Now that the economy is stabilised, no other fear for the country except upward movement and sustained growth, I can assure you.
On security, President Tinubu urged increased vigilance and promised greater investment in protecting lives and property.
He revealed that thousands of terrorists and bandits have been neutralised, a fact he declared evident in the noticeable decline of fear among the people.
On security, thousands of terrorists and bandits have been neutralised, and you could see the fact that the fear is going down, but we still have to be very serious and vigilant and make sure that we put additional investment in our people, retain our people, and they accommodate and be serious about security.
“We need to invest more, and that is about our party. We will continue to grow, those working with me to achieve a sovereign food guarantee for our country, we will continue to work hard for Nigerians and listen to all of you to achieve the expected goals of this country,” the President added.
Among those in attendance were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; APC governors, former governors, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other senior party leaders.