I’m here to serve, not accumulate wealth – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu declared on Friday that his role as Nigeria’s leader is not to seek personal gain or accumulate wealth, but to serve the nation and its people.

Speaking during a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly at Aso Rock Villa, President Tinubu emphasized that his administration is committed to delivering meaningful results despite the challenges. He highlighted plans to improve infrastructure, ensure food and energy security, enhance education, and secure long-term economic stability.

The forum, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, included 15 former senior officials, such as past Senate presidents, speakers of the House of Representatives, and their deputies.

In his remarks, President Tinubu said, “I didn’t come here to make money or exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for votes, and Nigerians entrusted me with them.” He expressed gratitude for the forum’s support, regardless of party affiliations, and urged them to continue fostering unity to achieve national development goals.

The president called for stronger collaboration between the executive and legislative branches to ensure national prosperity. He acknowledged the hardships facing the country and questioned past mismanagement during periods of high crude oil production, particularly the neglect of local communities and underinvestment in education.

“Yes, there is hardship, but how did we get here? When we had high crude production, we neglected our communities and didn’t provide a good standard of living. We failed to invest in our children’s education. The school environment must be decent enough to encourage learning,” he said.

President Tinubu pledged that his administration would address the nation’s challenges by improving infrastructure, ensuring compliance with financial regulations, exploring alternative energy sources, and securing energy for the future.

“We have come a long way, and I promise we will do our best,” he said.

He also urged the former presiding officers to continue sharing their governance experience to help the country move forward, noting that they are in a unique position to provide insight into the nation’s current situation.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, Senator Nnamani emphasized that the challenges facing Nigeria are not the fault of the Tinubu administration. He pledged the forum’s support for the president’s efforts to address insecurity, economic downturn, and infrastructure decay.

“Mr. President, history has never been the burden of one man alone, but some are called to bear a special share of its challenges. Though these problems were not of your creation, they have fallen to you to resolve,” Nnamani said. He expressed confidence in Tinubu’s ability to confront these issues, citing his decisive handling of local government autonomy as a sign of hope.

The forum, Nnamani concluded, is ready to support the administration in fostering national unity and ensuring prosperity for all Nigerians.