President Bola Tinubu has promised to be a listening leader to Nigerians, saying he will never turn his back on the citizens.

Tinubu made the vow in his national broadcast to mark the 2024 Democracy Day on Wednesday, June 12.

The president stated that he understood Nigeria’s economic difficulties, saying the reforms initiated by his administration were intended to create a stronger and better foundation for future growth.

He said: “There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship.

“Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.

“As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.”

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President Tinubu further vowed to protect Nigerians’ rights and freedoms, saying: “I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts.

“As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria.

“Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.

“Although the challenges are steep and multiple, I am grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and point in her democratic journey.

“I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship.

“The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade.

“I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy.”

The Star