President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support, prayers, and goodwill as he celebrated his 73rd birthday.
Speaking at a special Iftar at the Presidential Villa on Saturday night, he acknowledged the challenges of his journey to the presidency and reiterated his dedication to Nigeria’s progress.
Reflecting on the 2023 election campaign, Tinubu revealed that he once contemplated withdrawing from the race after a conversation with a close relative but ultimately remained committed to his goal.
“Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns, one of them came to my living room around 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just N50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle,” Tinubu said.
“He told me, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for?’”
“I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.’ I gave him the N50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it.’”
The President disclosed that his uncle later confirmed receiving the money but revealed that the messenger only gave him N10,000, keeping the remainder.
“At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me. When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back,’” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu acknowledged the economic difficulties he inherited and emphasized his decision to remove the fuel subsidy on his inauguration day to address fiscal challenges.
“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal,” he said.
“The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make 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 thoroughly abused in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for our nation’s future,” Tinubu added.