The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed confidence that Nigerians will come to fully appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership in the years ahead.
In a birthday tribute to the president on Saturday, Keyamo described Tinubu as a leader whose impact on Nigeria’s democratic landscape would be recognized for generations. According to him, the tribute was not merely for the present but a testament for the future.
“From an insider perspective, I dare say it will take decades before Nigerians truly and fully understand and appreciate the value President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has brought into our democratic space in all ramifications and the audacity with which he has taken on some of our key systemic challenges as a nation, root and branch,” Keyamo stated.
Highlighting Tinubu’s contributions to democracy, the minister described him as a master of forging progressive coalitions. He recalled Tinubu’s instrumental role in the formation and sustenance of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which fought for the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria.
“Doubtless, in post-colonial Nigeria, he has been a master at fostering progressive coalitions for the ultimate advancement of democracy. Firstly, he played a very pivotal role in the formation and sustenance of NADECO to oust the military and restore democratic governance in Nigeria,” he said.
Keyamo also noted Tinubu’s resilience in securing the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite being a key figure in the party’s formation.
“Secondly, he was at it again in 2015 when he inspired and rallied the biggest coalition of political parties in history to form the APC and oust the overly dominant PDP from power, thus re-balancing our democratic system.
“Despite that, he still had to struggle hard to win the Presidential ticket of the same APC in 2022 and battled even harder to win the presidential polls in 2023 before becoming the President of this great country,” he recalled.
Since assuming office, Keyamo said Tinubu’s bold decisions have set the country on a sustainable path, leaving an indelible mark for future generations.
“It can now be seen that he has been motivated over the years by one clear vision: a Nigeria on a genuinely sustainable path of economic growth and development. From the courageous removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the Naira to other bold reforms the government has embarked upon in different sectors, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has surely taken the bull by the horns. What previous governments shied away from for political expediency has become the defining characteristic of his government,” Keyamo stated.
He further asserted that Nigeria is now on the right track, with economic indicators showing signs of improvement.
“Now, we are clearly headed in the right direction as a country as developments in different sectors will be rapid in the few years to come because of the rise in our liquidity. Our macro-economic indicators are looking up, and these will eventually impact on jobs and ultimately ensure the revival and stability of the middle class,” he concluded.
