President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to fulfilling his mandate, emphasising that he cannot afford to underperform, given the trust placed in him by the electorate.

Tinubu said this during Iftar (breaking of Ramadan fast) with members of the Nigerian business community at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

The president, who expressed gratitude for the private sector’s support and pledged to engage with them more frequently, said: “I have no reason to underperform as the elected president of the country because I campaigned for the job.

“I cannot complain about the job. I appreciate the gesture, and what you have told me this evening is very inspiring. Cut the costs. Fix the bends. Summon courage. Save the money, but push the economy.

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“We will be there. There are some countries that have failed. There are some countries that have succeeded. In our time, in my time, all of us must work together to succeed. Thank you very much.”

Tinubu added that Nigeria’s economy is at a turning point and will require the steadfast support of the private sector for sustained growth and prosperity.

He said: “I would have summoned you before now, not during Ramadan because you are a very valuable part of my constituency.

“There is no driver of the economy that is bigger than the private sector. If the private sector is not flourishing, there is no growth, no prosperity, no employment or development. No matter how flowery the speeches are, not even a mushroom will grow.

“Thank you for persevering. We are at a turning point in our economy. I do not have to do a quadratic equation to illustrate all of that to you. I just want to appreciate you for your endurance and perseverance.”

In their separate remarks at the Ramadan dinner, industrialists, bank executives, and entrepreneurs pledged their support towards the success of the administration’s economic programmes.

The Star