Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima says the present administration inherited about $3.9 billion in its coffers when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.
According to him,the President however chose to confront the country’s economic difficulties rather than allow the situation to derail his plans.
Shettima disclosed this in Ilorin while speaking at the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the turbaning of the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate.
According to him, the difficult economic circumstances confronting the administration at inception did not prevent Tinubu from pursuing measures aimed at changing the country’s economic direction.
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He said the president similarly refused to allow political opposition to frustrate his presidential ambition before the 2023 election.
Shettima recalled that Tinubu had faced opposition from majority of the northern governors during the 2023 presidential contest.
He noted that only six of the 19 governors supported his aspiration.
“You know we have 19 northern states. Apart from Niger Former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, seated here, and Malam Abdurrahman AbdulRazaq.
“But to avoid controversy, I will stop naming the names of the other governors. But the governors that were supporting President Tinubu in the North were not more than six who believed in him. But Tinubu refused to be deterred. He was able to cross the road,” the Vice President said.
The Vice President said the same determination was brought to bear on the administration’s economic programme after it assumed office.
He added that the economic team continued working despite the difficulties inherited by the government.
He said the administration could have spent its time blaming its predecessors for the economic situation, but Tinubu instead took responsibility and pushed his team to work towards reversing the trend.
“The economic team forged ahead to turn the economy around,” Shettima said, adding that the government had continued to pursue its policies despite the difficult starting point.
Shettima used Tinubu’s political experience to appeal for restraint and reconciliation among politicians, particularly those preparing for or emerging from political contests.
He urged politicians not to treat elections as battles that should permanently destroy relationships and also that political differences should give way to reconciliation after contests.
The Vice President cited Tinubu’s conduct towards northern governors who did not support him in 2023 as an example.
He said the president subsequently embraced and forgave them.
“After the 2023 election, President Tinubu hugged and forgave all other northern governors that did not support him. That is a mark of a good leader,” he said.
The turbaning ceremony which was very colorful was attended by dignitaries from within and outside the country including Governors, National Assembly members, women of substance, captains of industries, traditional and religious leaders, politicians of note as well as media executives.
