Speaker, Benjamin Kalu celebrate Tinubu at 73

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, have eulogised President Bola Tinubu on the occasion of his birthday anniversary.

Born on March 29, 1952, the President turned 73 on Saturday.

In a congratulatory message on Saturday, issued by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas said Nigeria is lucky to have a democrat and patriot in the person of President Tinubu as its leader at this critical point in the country’s democratic journey.

The speaker described the president as “One of the most experienced politicians to have occupied the presidential seat, having at various times excelled at the state and federal levels in the executive and legislative arms of the government.”

He commended the first citizen for taking some bold initiatives aimed at turning around the fortune of the Nigerian state, such as the removal of subsidy from petrol, among other reforms.

The statement said these reforms are already yielding positive results for the country, affirming the sincerity of purpose in the administration’s handling of the economy.

He also applauded the president for programmes such as the Student Loan Scheme, the consumer credit scheme, the new national minimum wage, local government autonomy, the crude-for-naira deal, and the fixing of the Port Harcourt Refinery, among many others.

He said, “It is indeed a day of celebration not just for His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, and his family but also for every well-meaning Nigerian.

“As a democrat and patriot that he is, President Tinubu has demonstrated his unflinching allegiance and steadfastness to the well-being of Nigerians. He keeps to his covenant of making Nigeria better.

“Though initially painful, the policies and programmes introduced by the Tinubu administration are necessary for our future and the future of our unborn generations. As we have already started witnessing, these painful decisions are now paying off. Prices of foodstuffs are dropping drastically; the naira is truly fighting for its strength as exchange rates keep crashing; insecurity is gradually being nipped in the bud.

“I make bold to say that across all sectors, we are witnessing not just the resilience of our country and its people but also the transformative impact of these courageous policies. Your strategic foresight and unwavering commitment have set Nigeria on a remarkable path to recovery, prosperity, and renewed national pride.

“Under your resolute command, our security apparatus has delivered peace and order, cutting violent crime and insurgency by over 30% across our beloved states. Improved coordination among our armed forces, intelligence agencies, and community security initiatives has resulted in a reduction of over 30% in violent crimes and insurgency incidents across several states,” the statement read in part.

On his part, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, has congratulated Tinubu for his courage in taking some painful but necessary steps to stabilise the economy.

He highlighted Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy, which he described as a “whited sepulchre” that had deceptively appeared economical on the surface but was, in reality, draining the country’s resources.

In a congratulatory message issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu lauded President Tinubu’s efforts to develop the geo-political zones in Nigeria through the creation of regional development commissions.

According to him, the initiative will meet the infrastructure needs of the people and foster economic prosperity and social cohesion in the respective regions.

“President Tinubu’s leadership has been a game-changer for Nigeria. His commitment to economic reforms and development is unwavering, and we are confident that his policies will yield positive results in the long run,” the statement read in part.

In his tribute, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described President Tinubu as the “Aare Ona Kankafo” of all political and democratic struggles in the land.

He said, “Let us pay tribute to this enigmatic and bold reformer as he turns 73; this quintessential democrat; this master of political consensus; this consummate politician; this exemplary President, and this ‘Aare Ona Kankafo’ of all political and democratic struggles.”

The minister said, “It will take decades before Nigerians truly and fully understand and appreciate the value President Tinubu has brought into our democratic space in all ramifications and the audacity with which he has taken on some of our key systemic challenges as a nation, root and branch.”