Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, has defended her husband, President Bola Tinubu, against criticisms of the ongoing economic hardship in the country, following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

The subsidy removal, announced during Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, has resulted in a sharp rise in the pump price of petrol, soaring from N198 to N1,030 per liter.

Speaking at the Palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Thursday, the First Lady emphasized that the administration is still in its early stages and should not be blamed for the current challenges. She stated, “We are just 18 months into our administration; we are not the cause of the current situation; we are trying to fix it and secure the future.”

She further added, “We know that subsidy has been removed, but with God on our side, in the next two years, Nigeria will be greater than this. Those who attempted removing subsidies before could not see it through. But with your prayers in the next two years, we will build a nation for the future.”

The First Lady also reassured Nigerians of President Tinubu’s integrity, expressing gratitude for their position while noting that they remain humble. She said, “We give glory to God for our status, myself and my husband, we are not greedy but we thank God for what God has done for us. It is not common for rich people to get to this seat but I am grateful to God, we can not disappoint Nigeria and with the help of God, we are getting to the promised land in no distant time.”

Oluremi Tinubu made these remarks while inaugurating a hostel and a 2.7-kilometre road donated to Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ University (OAU), Ile-Ife, by the Ooni of Ife, which were named in her honour. She also donated N1 billion to the university for its continued development.

During the ceremony, the Ooni of Ife praised the First Lady for her positive influence, noting her longstanding service as a role model since her days as the First Lady of Lagos State.

In addition to addressing economic issues, Mrs Tinubu also spoke on the importance of hard work, particularly to Nigerian youth, stating, “There is no food for the lazy man, even God worked for six days and rested on the seventh day.” She urged Nigerians to be patient with the current administration and remain hopeful for a brighter future.

She concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to stabilizing the economy and ensuring sustainable development, saying, “We are trying all our efforts to ensure that the economy is stabilised and masses are living meaningful lives since the removal of fuel subsidy.”

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