President Bola Tinubu expressed optimism on Thursday, affirming his belief in a promising future for Nigeria despite the challenges democracy has encountered in the past.
In his statement, the President underscored the need for a progressive and inclusive democracy, with a central emphasis on effectively tackling poverty through the creation of job opportunities for the youth and ensuring quality education for every Nigerian child.
President Tinubu, while meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Lagos, voiced his backing for the party’s initiative in establishing the National Institute of Progressive Studies.
The President highlighted that the Institute is tasked with conducting thorough research and educating all party members on democratic principles and good governance, ultimately establishing a distinct identity for the party.
President Tinubu in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, was quoted as saying, ‘Democracy has faced challenges in the past, but I believe in a promising future for our country. We will deliver it. I am committed to supporting a strong and ideologically determined democracy that is progressive, inclusive, and focused on eliminating poverty while providing quality education for our children.’
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‘Collaboration with various government arms is crucial, and I commend the leadership of our party for working hard to promote these essential ideals.’
He called on the leadership of the party to target more youths and women in its e-registration and digital membership validation exercise scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.
‘I stand solidly with you in the advancement of the progressive ideological stance of our party and we will pursue it with vigour,’ he stated.
Thanking party members, President Tinubu acknowledged the substantial support received during the campaigns, the electoral victory, and the Supreme Court’s endorsement of his presidency.
‘It has been a while since we have had the opportunity to come together, especially since the Supreme Court ruling. I had hoped for a gathering, but the demanding tasks of my office that we fought for have called for increased focus, dedication and time.’
Expressing concern on the alarming figure of out-of-school children in the country, President Tinubu declared: ‘We must address this issue by establishing more schools, recruiting teachers, and providing at least one meal a day for the school children, aligning with the progressive ideology we aim to pursue.’
During a briefing with the President, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, outlined the plans being put in place by the NWC to secure the party’s success in the February 2024 bye-elections for National and State legislative houses.
‘We assure Your Excellency that under our leadership and with your consent, strategies have been put in place to win the support of our people and secure all the seats available for the electoral contest,’ he said.