Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to be “generous” towards President Bola Tinubu, saying the President made tough decisions to stop the economy from collapsing.
Speaking in Lagos after meeting Tinubu, who recently returned from his annual vacation, Shettima said the President stayed connected to developments in Nigeria while abroad.
“We are quite thrilled that he’s back on the beat,” Shettima said.
“Advances in science and technology have made it possible to really have impactful leadership wherever one might find himself.”
Shettima asked Nigerians to judge the administration against the economic situation it inherited in 2023. He said foreign reserves were only about $3.9 billion, leaving the government under severe financial pressure.
He said Tinubu responded by removing the petrol subsidy and unifying the country’s multiple exchange rates.
“It is absolutely essential that Nigerians need to be generous to this poor man,” Shettima said.
“When we assumed the mantle of leadership, our foreign reserves was a staggeringly low $3.9 billion that was not enough to import fuel for one month,” he said.
“He had the courage and the conviction to take power-reaching decisions.”
Shettima said the economy was close to collapse when Tinubu took office.
“The economy was teetering on the verge of collapse,” he said.
“He saved the economy. I want Nigerians to understand this fundamental truism. We were on the road to Caracas; he saved our economy; he saved the nation from falling into pieces.”
He acknowledged the hardship caused by the reforms and cost-of-living crisis, but urged patience.
“We appreciate the pains Nigerians are going through, but tough times do not last forever; tough people do,” Shettima added.
