President Bola Tinubu on Sunday asserted that hard decisions must be made to redirect the country to the path of growth.
He made the declaration while declaring open the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Velodrome, Chief MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Getting it Right: Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation-Building,” the President stated, “We cannot have the country we desire without the reforms we have initiated.
It is painful at the beginning, in the short and medium term, but we must do what we have to do to take this nation to its great destiny. It is not about you, and it is not about me. It is about our generations yet unborn, for whom we must bequeath a great and prosperous country.”
He declared that Nigeria will not sustain the failed economic theory that he observed saw to the wastage of 90% of its scarce revenue in the servicing of external debts in the midst of many development challenges facing the country.
Addressing the over 16,000 lawyers in attendance, President Tinubu stated that the prosperity Nigerians require will only occur once poverty is banished from the society with the focused cooperation of Nigeria’s private sector leaders, many of whom were present at the opening ceremony.
“Can we continue serving external debts with 90% of our revenue? It is a path to destruction. It is not sustainable. We must make the very difficult changes necessary for our country to get up from slumber and be respected among the world’s great nations,” the President said.
According to a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), While speaking against the backdrop of the judicial reforms he undertook as Lagos State Governor, President Tinubu renewed his commitment to deal conclusively with the pressing issue of remuneration for judicial officers and legal practitioners, noting that true justice reform must begin with world-class salaries and benefits for legal professionals in Nigeria.
He further said: “You are learned. I want to learn. Why are we so blessed, and we are still lacking? We must have a change of attitude and a change of our mindset. We accuse our nation and its previous leaders. We complain a lot about the past. Is that the solution? No! Let us look forward and be determined! God has given us what we need. We must work hard with determination to make our country great, and it begins with you who are seated here with me.”
Referring to the Keynote address delivered by the Chairman of UBA Plc and Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu, whom he praised for setting an agenda for economic growth and development, President Tinubu bemoaned the inability of the country to eradicate poverty and tackle poor electricity supply, despite Nigeria’s abundance of gas.
He made a commitment that his administration will ensure that Nigeria generates and distributes the electricity the economy requires to thrive.
“Yes, it is a shame not to have adequate electricity for the mass majority of homes in Nigeria and to power our industries. How can we address poverty without electricity? We can take many people out of poverty with an uninterrupted electricity supply. Poverty is unacceptable, and we must banish it,” President Tinubu concluded.
In his welcome address, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, expressed the confidence of the NBA in the ability of President Bola Tinubu to deliver good governance to Nigeria because of his pedigree and past track record of excellent performance in Lagos State, where he was the governor between 1999-2007.
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“President Tinubu got it right in Lagos, and it is our considered expectation that as President of Nigeria, you will not only replicate your achievements in Lagos, but surpass them for our country.”
The conference was attended by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, past NBA Presidents and many senior government officials.
