Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove fuel subsidy on his first day in office was in the best interest of Nigerians and the nation’s economy, saying in fullness of time, history will be kind to him.
He admitted that President Tinubu is aware of the current economic crisis and challenges being faced by Nigerians and has taken responsibility to resolve them without apportioning blame to others.
Shettima spoke on Tuesday at the public presentation of Sam Omatseye’s new book, “Beating All Odds: Diaries and Essays on How Bola Tinubu Became President”, which held at Shehu Yar’adua Centre, Abuja.
He reassured Nigerians that Tinubu has Nigeria on his mind and some of the policies taken so far were in the interest of the nation.
The 349-page book largely chronicles the interventions of Sam Omatseye on the 2023 presidential race—the thrills and the trials, tribulations and the triumph
The Vice-President, who described the 2023 general elections that saw to the emergence of Tinubu as President of Nigeria as most divisive in the history of Nigeria, partly because of Muslim-Muslim ticket, said all the ethno-religious fault-lines that caused divisions across the country were deliberately manipulated for political ends.
He noted that the outcome of the elections and victory of President Tinubu under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) was a clear indication that Nigerians from both northern and southern parts of the country knew the right and stood firm to it.
Shettima said: “The last election certainly was the most divisive in the history of this country. All the ethno-religious fault-lines that divide this nation were deliberately manipulated for political ends.
“The build-up to the last presidential elections in Nigeria revealed a peculiar type of writers and bloggers. Those who could have hijacked the robust journalism of this great country, if men and women of objective standing had not stood up to defend the fourth estate.
“These authors, devoted to political fantasy, have dedicated their lives to crafting false narratives and outright fabrications to sow chaos. While they might earn a place on the New York Times bestseller list for their fiction, they certainly will not find a spot on the shelves of our nation’s history.
“Be rest assured that the President has Nigeria in his mind. Yes, we are having challenges, we are not denying them and we are not here to apportion blame.
“Leadership is about accepting responsibilities and finding solutions to national challenges. The President is a man of courage and conviction. In the first week in office, he took far-reaching decisions.
“Fuel subsidy has been an albatross around the neck of the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian nation, he took the bull by the horns and withdrew the fuel subsidy from day one.
“He was able to collapse the multiple exchange rate regime that gave room for a lot of hanky panky. And be rest assured that in the fullness of time, history will be kind to him,” he said.
Shettima described Tinubu as a political phenomenon, noting that even those who attempted to undermine him live to confess to this fact. He maintained that the President’s years of building people and relationships played out during the elections, and that the book provides sufficient material for curious minds.
A former Governor of Ogun State, and Chairman on the occasion, Chief Olusegun Osoba, commended the resilient spirit of Tinubu, saying in spite all the trials and tribulations, weathered the storm to emerge triumph in the 2023 Presidential election.
He said Tinubu was able to turn all obstacles on his way to Aso Rock into cobweb. “As a book on Bola Tinubu, who eventually emerged as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it provides an excellent insight into the vision, character, methods, and strategies of an unusual politician,” he said.
Some of the dignitaries in attendance at the unveiling of the book were the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, former National Chairman of the APC and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, among others.
READ ALSO: NOA Jigawa warns against overcrowding to prevent Meningitis spread
