THE Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Amina Mohammed, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for demonstrating resilience and responsibility in leadership, saying she has never heard him complain about the challenges he inherited from his predecessor since assuming office.
News Point Nigeria reports that Mohammed stated this at a special award dinner held at Nigeria House, New York, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary and celebrate the annual Independence Day Parade and Carnival.
According to the UN deputy chief, President Tinubu fought determinedly to become Nigeria’s leader and had made it clear from the onset that he would not lament over the problems handed to him by the previous administration.
“President Tinubu fought hard to get to that seat,” she said. “He told us it was his turn, and he meant it.
“But he also told us that he wasn’t going to complain about what he got. I have not heard him complain. People around him complain about what he inherited, but he doesn’t.”
Mohammed noted that such an attitude of courage and accountability is commendable, especially in a country grappling with complex socio-economic challenges.
The Nigerian-born UN official also emphasized the importance of national unity and respect for constituted authority, urging citizens to rally behind the President to move the country forward.
“He is the President of Nigeria. It is God that put him on that seat. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to get behind him and do the best we can for Nigeria except you are trying to tell me that God made a mistake,” she stated.
Mohammed, who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Environment before her UN appointment, said the country’s progress depends on the collective resolve of its people, both at home and in the diaspora, to build rather than destroy.
Congratulating Nigeria on its 65th Independence Anniversary, the UN deputy secretary-general expressed optimism about the nation’s future, describing it as “a work in progress” that requires the commitment of all citizens.
“We are 65 years old as a country. We are a work in progress. Unless you are part of building a nation, no one else is going to do it for you,” she said. “It doesn’t matter whether you are in the country or outside the country.”
She called on Nigerians to reject the “pull-down syndrome” and instead contribute meaningfully to national growth.
Mohammed, who has been a vocal advocate for sustainable development and youth empowerment, urged Nigerians to change their mindset about the country and project a positive image to the world.
“If we get into the pull-down syndrome, then who else is going to pull us up?” she asked. “What else are we telling our children or those we want as our partners? If we are the first to say that we’re no good, we’re not good enough, I hope we stop doing that.”
She described Nigerians as some of the “hardest working, most ambitious, and proud people” globally and called for unity of purpose in advancing the nation’s development.
