Nigerians received a pat on the back yesterday for resisting unconstitutional change of government during the recent protest over the economic crisis.
The Council of State, which hailed their commitment to democratic stability, also passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for displaying leadership qualities.
The advisory council, made up of serving and past presidents/heads of state, and governors, reflected on the state of the nation during its meeting in Aso Villa, Abuja. It is the first meeting of the body since President Tinubu assumed the reins last year.
Present at the meeting were former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Former military Heads of State – General Yakubu Gowon and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar – joined virtually.
But former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida were absent.
Governors who also joined the meeting virtually are Alex Otti (Abia), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) and Amodu Fintri (Adamawa).
Seven members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)made presentations to the Council on the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.
They included National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, and Minister of Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Anite-Uzoka.
Vote of confidence in Tinubu:
Kwara State Governor and the chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, told reporters after the meeting that the council unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu for the way he has governed the country.
He also said the council was satisfied with the presentations made by ministers on the progress of the economy.
AbdulRasaq said: “The high note of the meeting was a unanimous passage of a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Members, especially those of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, were satisfied with the presentation by the members of the Federal Executive Council, and after that meeting, there was an executive session between members of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Mr President, and frank and fruitful discussions were held between both parties, and I’m glad to say we’re on the right track.
“And to say in the same vein, members of the NGF also, like the members of the Council of State, passed a vote of confidence in Mr President.
“We also wish him well and pray for God guidance for him.”
No room for coups, says Alake
Alake said the council also praised Tinubu for resisting a forceful takeover of government.
Alake said the recent action was not a protest, but a movement.
He said the council affirmed that nobody will be allowed to change the government, except through the ballot box.
Alake restated that seven ministers made presentations to the council on the progress being made on economic diversification and the economy.
He said the National Security Adviser, Mallaam Nuhu Ribadu, briefed the council on the events before, during and after the recent protests.
Alake described the protest as a “movement to effect a change of regime by force,” insisting that that it was resisted by Nigerians.
He said the council thanked Nigerians for resisting any unconstitutional attempt to change the government.
Alake emphasised that if anyone is dissatisfied with the current administration, they should wait for the next elections (in 2027).
He said the NSA reassured that security agencies were ready to secure Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protect its democracy.
Alake said: “The council thanked Nigerians at large for resisting any unconstitutional move to change government. If anybody is not satisfied with the government, any current administration, there is always an election coming. So, you wait for election and cast your vote.
“So, the NSA briefed the Council on the security situations, and allayed fears all round. After the NSA’s briefing, generally, he allayed everybody’s fears and spoke on the tightness of the security around the country, and also reassured all and sundry that nobody will be allowed to truncate our hard earned democracy.
“Any change of government has to be through the ballots and not through the barrel of the gun or through insurrection or through any other unconstitutional means, only through the ballot box can any government be changed.”
Edun: We are making progress on economy
Edun said he reported encouraging economic progress to the Council, based on data on the first half of 2023.
He said the economy is growing, with a surplus in the balance of payments, trade balance, and current account balance.
Edun also said the exchange rate is stabilizing, adding that inflation, though still high, is slowing and set to fall.
He said there has been support for the economy from foreign and domestic investors, particularly in the infrastructure sector.
Edun alluded to opportunities for growth, particularly exports, which reached $55 billion last year, and the service sector, particularly software and accounting services.
He said: “We had the opportunity to, in my case, update them on the economy, update them on how far progress had been made in terms of the macro-economic policies being followed under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and these policies are anchored in his eight priority areas and the results to date have been very encouraging.
“In broad terms, the economy is growing. The balance of payments, in particular, the trade balance and a current account balance are in surplus. The exchange rate is stabilizing, and inflation, though high, uncomfortably high for the liking of Mr president and his team, it is slowing and it is set to fall.
“But in particular, there has been support for the economy from investors, foreign investors, by way of portfolio investors, domestic investors, who are participating in important private public partnerships, particularly infrastructure sector and foreign direct investment, is beginning to recover, I would say so.
“On that basis, we reported on, in particular, the opportunities for the economy once stabilized for investment and growth, and identified for the meeting was the fact that we have exports, goods exports, Non oil exports, at $55 billion last year with tremendous room to grow.
“And in particular, we identified that the service sector, that is, software services, computer services, accounting services, personnel services, which can be provided by young Nigerians staying in Nigeria and providing services through the internet and through telephones, outsourcing in a world was a big area we emphasized.
“In a nutshell, we reported that there was good progress being made that the effort was going to continue to ensure that the interventions and measures to ameliorate the high cost of living for individuals, for the agricultural sector, for industry, for Small Scale businesses, were going to continue to be implemented with all efforts needed for success.
“And on that basis, we reported an optimistic outlook for the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian society in general, as a result of prospects for economic growth and economic progress.”
Source: The Nation
