Yemi Obafemi
President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s economy has begun to stabilise following his administration’s tough economic reforms.
Speaking on Tuesday at the State House while receiving the Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Oladunni Olaoye, Orumogege III, alongside other royal fathers, Tinubu said years of neglect, corruption, and manipulation had crippled the nation’s finances.
“Years of neglect and self-deception, fake records, smuggling, and arbitrage trading of currency denied Nigeria the necessary revenue for progress and development,” the president said.
According to him, the bold measures introduced since the beginning of his administration have begun to yield results.
“With your prayers, patience, perseverance and great understanding, I’m glad to tell you today that the economy is stabilised. The bleeding has stopped. Haemorrhage is gone; the patient is alive,” Tinubu assured.
In a statement signed by the special adviser to the president on Information & Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the president Highlighted his administration priorities, noting that the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was to ensure that no student drops out of school due to poverty.
The Soun commended Tinubu for his strides, including the creation of NELFUND and ongoing projects in Oyo State. He also urged the president to address challenges in water and power supply in Ogbomoso, upgrade the town’s general hospital into a Federal Medical Centre, and establish a research institute to develop Ogbomoso’s famed mangoes and cashew nuts into viable agricultural enterprises.
In response, Tinubu promised to engage the Ministers of Power, Water Resources, Agriculture, and Works to look into the monarch’s requests, stressing that Nigeria can achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture through such initiatives.
On the entourage of the Soun of Ogbomosoland were five other Kings representing the five councils in Ogbomosoland, namely High Chief Samuel Otolorin, the Areago of Ogbomosoland; HRM, Oba Oyetunji Adeyeye, the Alajaawa of Ajaawa; HRM Oba Bolarinwa Ezekiel Olajide, the Onisapa of Isapa; HRM Oba Babatunde Amao, the Aale Oke-elerin, and HRM Oba Prof. Akinola John Akintola, the Olokin-apa of Okin-apa.
Others were High Chief Ogundare Oluwakemi Rebecca, Iyalode of Ogbomosoland; Prof. Sola Adepoju, former DG Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria; Chief Tunji Olaniyi, a businessman, and Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Atanda Owodunni, the Aare Musulumi of Ogbomosoland.
