President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday hosted a set of politicians who were state governors alongside him in 1999.
Nineteen of the 36 former governors were present at the meeting.
While appreciating his colleagues who served during the birth of the 4th Republic in 1999, President Tinubu appealed for more patience from Nigerians, saying the government would increase efforts to alleviate the pains of the subsidy removal and speed up the process.
He said the government would ensure a full-proof social security structure that will not be compromised, especially in cash-transfer.
“I understand that our people are suffering, yet there can be no childbirth without pain. The joy of childbirth is the baby. Relief comes after the pain. Nigeria is being reborn. It is a rebirth of the country for the largest number, over a few smugglers.
“Please tell the people to be a little patient. The palliative is coming. I am doing the arithmetics. I don’t want the cash-transfer to fall into wrong hands. I know it pinches and it is difficult. In the end, we will rejoice in the prosperity of our country,’’ he said.
Former governor of Edo Lucky Igbinedion, while briefing reporters at Aso Rock, said the visit was to assure Tinubu of their support and cooperation.
“We met the president as a colleague governor that laid the foundation of the current democracy in Nigeria in 1999, which has continued to strengthen up to today.
“We also congratulated him on his election and thanked him for appointing one of us as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (George Akume).
“We spoke about security, about electricity supply because these are key factors in the development of any economy. He assured us of the administration’s preparedness to tackle them headlong,” he said.
Igbinedion added that the former governors took cognisance of the fact that now is the time to separate politics from national development, adding that all hands must be on deck to rebuild Nigeria.
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“We are now talking of the project Nigeria and not about political affiliations. It is time to work for the progress of the country.
“The president assured us that it is his dream to see a better Nigeria where all citizens will feel a sense of belonging. He also said that Nigerians should be patient with recent decisions taken by the administration.
“We also acknowledged that the issue of fuel subsidy removal is a right decision and palliatives should be provided which he is already taking measures,” he said.
Among the former governors in attendance were those of Delta, James Ibori; Cross River, Donald Duke; Enugu, Chimaroke Nnamani; Akwa Ibom, Obong Attah; Plateau, Joseph Dariye; Kebbi, Adamu Aliero; Sokoto, Attahiru Baffarawa; Ekiti, Niyi Adebayo; Jigawa, Saminu Turaki; and Bauchi, Ahmed Muazu.
