PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Monday night in Abuja, called on political leaders in the country to channel more resources and policies toward catering to the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
The President, who hosted governors, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Service Chiefs, and some selected Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to break the Ramadan fast at the State House, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, urged leaders to be selfless and work for the people’s benefit marking the first such gathering of the Ramadan season.
Among the notable attendees were Rivers Governor Sim Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Their presence comes amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State where the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of the faction led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, a Wike ally.
The ruling reinstated 27 pro-Wike lawmakers who had reportedly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)-led Assembly, challenging Fubara’s authority.
The dinner was also attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila and several cabinet members.
Other Governors around include: Alex Otti (Abia); Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Hyacinth Alia (Benue); Babagana Zulum (Borno); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Monday Okpebholo (Edo); Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe); Umar Namadi (Jigawa); Uba Sani (Kaduna); Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano) and Nasir Idris (Kebbi).
Others are: AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Mohammed Bago (Niger); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo); Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) and Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi).
Also in attendance were key government agency heads, including the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Professor Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad; Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa; Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Jaji Abdulganiyu; and Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed and the CEO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, were also part of the gathering.
President Tinubu noted that political leaders’ efforts are crucial in meeting citizens’ expectations.
He commended the people-oriented policies that have started yielding positive results in improved human development indexes and economic indicators.
The President attributed the success of economic reforms to the collective effort of members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the collaboration of leaders at the subnational levels.
“I recall in our first FEC meeting, I said we were going to work hard to fetch water from a dry well. We are still working hard to ensure that there is water to drink and that we spend money, not the people.
“You, the leaders at the subnational levels, are also doing all you can to spend money, not the people,” he noted.
Tinubu urged political leaders to work for posterity so that history will remember them for good.
“Look at yourselves as navigators that will bring the country to the promised land. Standing here as President is a great honour, and you can’t trade it.
“Continue doing what you are doing. And do more for the people,” he added.
The President further charged the political leaders to see the entire country as one big family in a house where people live in different rooms.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, thanked the President for the bold and decisive reform of the Nigerian economy.
Also, Governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who led the Christian prayers, said, “It is no coincidence that Muslims and Christians are fasting at the same time.”