Why I removed fuel subsidy on my inauguration day – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Nigerians for their goodwill messages and prayers as he marked his 73rd birthday.

Speaking at a special Iftar held in his honor at the Presidential Villa on Saturday night, Tinubu thanked guests for their presence, prayers, and contributions to national development.

In a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu acknowledged the difficulties he faced on his journey to the presidency and reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s progress.

The gathering included First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana Shettima, members of the Federal Executive Council, principal officers of the National Assembly, current and former governors, diplomats, business leaders, religious figures, and some of the President’s childhood friends.

Dr. Abdulkadir Salman Sholagberu, Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, led special prayers for divine guidance and continued national progress.

Reflecting on his political journey, Tinubu recounted a moment of uncertainty during the 2023 election campaign when a close relative’s words nearly made him reconsider his candidacy.

“During the campaign, someone close to me came to my living room at 3:30 a.m., asking for ₦50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle. He told me, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters for cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have ₦10,000. What are you running for?’”

Tinubu said he gave him the money, but as the relative walked out, he turned back and said, “I don’t think you will make it.” Tinubu responded, “I will make it.”

The President later discovered that his uncle received only ₦10,000, as the messenger had kept the rest. That incident, he said, nearly discouraged him from continuing his campaign.

However, thanks to the encouragement of Aminu Masari and other allies, Tinubu pressed on. “Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back.’ And I didn’t,” he said.

Tinubu also reflected on the economic challenges he inherited and the tough decisions he had to make immediately after assuming office.

“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech—the removal of the fuel subsidy,” he said.

He emphasized that Nigeria had reached a point where continuing the subsidy was no longer sustainable.

“The hallmark of great leadership is making the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared that the subsidy was gone. The following day, I was hounded and criticized in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for the nation’s future,” he stated.

Vice President Kashim Shettima commended Tinubu’s sacrifices, stating that history will remember him as the leader who tackled some of Nigeria’s toughest challenges head-on.

“Thanks to his boldness, future presidents will not have to wrestle with the same ghosts—fraud-ridden fuel subsidies, an unstable forex market, and suppressed local government autonomy. These were the tough issues many before him sidestepped. But Asiwaju did not sidestep history; he came to rewrite it,” Shettima said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Tinubu’s resilience, describing him as Nigeria’s “most audacious president.”

“Under your administration, governors are receiving more allocations. If I had been a governor under your leadership, I would have been a ‘supernatural governor,’ not just an uncommon governor,” Akpabio joked.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, highlighted Tinubu’s impact on Nigerian politics, noting that he has long prioritized raising future leaders.

“In 2019, despite not being from his region, he supported me in my most difficult political moment. Nigeria needs leaders who rise above tribal considerations, and he has demonstrated that,” Kalu said.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma lauded Tinubu’s decisive leadership, emphasizing that only a leader with deep conviction and love for Nigeria could make the bold decisions necessary to stabilize the country.

Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijjani, shared his personal experience of being appointed despite his history as an activist.

“Before my appointment, I had never met Mr. President. But after my confirmation, he told me, ‘I have looked at your records and activism, and I am giving you an opportunity to serve,’” Tijjani revealed.

He added that during a recent meeting at the World Bank, a senior official described Tinubu as “the best reformist leader in Africa today.”

Professor Shaffideen Adeniyi Amuwo, a childhood friend of the President, reminisced about their early years and how destiny led Tinubu to the presidency.

“Our bond goes back to childhood. We played soccer together before our paths diverged—while I chose the library, he chose politics because he loved to speak. Today, Allah has shown His greatness by guiding him to lead Nigeria,” Amuwo said.

He noted the irony that Chicago, a city founded by a Black man, educated the man who now leads the most populous Black nation on earth.

“I pray that Allah continues to hold his hand and guide him as he works to save our country,” he concluded.