“Tinubu Told Me He Was Unaware How Bad The Economy Was When He Became President” – Akpabio

By Akinwale Kasali

“Under Buhari, Nigeria Was On Life Support” – Akpabio

Amid Economic woes, Senate President Godswill Akpabio is pleading with Nigeria to support President Bola Tinubu.

Akpabio said that Nigeria’s economic woes did not begin with Tinubu. The country, he revealed, was on life support when Tinubu took over as President. For the records, Tinubu’s predecessor was President Muhammadu Buhari of same All Progressives Congress, APC, as  Tinubu, and a man he helped in no small way to put in office, and praised to high heavens till he handed over to him (Tinubu) on May 29, 2023.

Akpabio appealed that Tinubu needs all the support as he continues to work tirelessly to address the economic challenges bedeviling the country.

Speaking at his 2024 Constituency Briefing and Empowerment Programme held at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio, who is representing Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District at the Senate, told his listeners the country was  on “life support” when President Tinubu assumed office.

He recounted a conversation with President Tinubu about the state of the economy inherited from the previous administration.

He said: “Nigeria was on life support when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu took over. I once asked him, ‘Are you excited about being President after seeing the economy left behind by Emefiele?’ He replied, ‘Small President, I must tell you, I didn’t know it was this bad.’”

The Senate President expressed optimism about ongoing economic reforms, noting that while they may be painful, they are necessary for sustainable growth.

“You did it in Lagos, and you will do it again for Nigeria. It’s just a matter of time. We are praying for you, and God will grant you the wisdom to lead us to El Dorado.”

Senator Akpabio flagged off the distribution of empowerment items, including: 1,000 bags of rice per local government in his senatorial district; deep freezers and generators for traders and fishing businesses; cargo tricycles for cassava and oil palm farmers.

Others include: Motorcycles for rural mobility; keke Napep (tricycles) for wealth creation; vehicles were distributed to Paramount Rulers to aid mobility and governance,with Students receiving N200,000 education grants each.