Youth leader says hope alive as Tinubu addresses Nigerians

By Aliyu Juwairat

The United Nations Habitat Ambassador to Nigeria, and Secretary General, of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Dr. Raymond Edoh has expressed satisfaction and confidence in the beliefs of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Nigeria’s economy stressing that the youth are strongly behind him in his strong mission of holistically resharpening the Nigeria economy.

The youth leader who made this statement immediately after the National Broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today, the 31st of July, 2023 in clear terms described him as the masses’ President.

Dr. Raymond Edoh, in his words, “I have never seen a patriotic President in the history of Africa like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria.

“His national Broadcast to Nigerians has actually shown his kind of leader. And I am proud to say that we the youths are fully behind him. I have all these while, believed in his capacity knowing too well that his leadership precedents in Lagos State remained an indelible mark that stands the test of time and had never been beaten by any world leader. I repeat, his records have never been beaten by any world leader.

“Now that we have known his stand, we will do all it takes in the youth sphere to enlighten others and share this good mission of a better economy to also know and key into it for the better Nigeria that we have all clamored for”, he added.

While making references to President Tinubu’s speech, Edoh said, “According to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and I quote, “…The subsidy cost us trillions of Naira yearly. Such a vast sum of money would have been better spent on public transportation, healthcare, schools, housing, and even national security. Instead, it was being funneled into the deep pockets and lavish bank accounts of a select group of individuals.

“This group had amassed so much wealth and power that they became a serious threat to the fairness of our economy and the integrity of our democratic governance. To be blunt, Nigeria could never become the society it was intended to be as long as such small, powerful yet unelected groups hold enormous influence over our political economy and the institutions that govern it.

“The whims of the few should never hold dominant sway over the hopes and aspirations of the many. If we are to be a democracy, the people and not the power of money must be sovereign.

” Also, the multiple exchange rate system that had been established became nothing but a highway of currency speculation. It diverted money that should have been used to create jobs, build factories and businesses for millions of people. Our national wealth was doled on favourable terms to a handful of people who have been made filthy rich simply by moving money from one hand to another. This too was extremely unfair.

” I had promised to reform the economy for the long-term good by fighting the major imbalances that had plagued our economy. Ending the subsidy and the preferential exchange rate system were key to this fight. This fight is to define the fate and future of our nation. Much is in the balance.

“To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good-paying jobs, we are going to spend N75 billion between July 2023 and March 2024. Our objective is to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation and improve productivity. Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1 Billion credit at 9% per annum with a maximum of 60 months repayment for long term loans and 12 months for working capital.

“I assure you my fellow country men and women that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn.”

“This simply means the President knows what he is up to and all aligns with the yearning of every single Nigerian youth both home and in the diaspora.

“Assuredly, we are pledging our unalloyed support for this administration because we are hopeful in the Tinubu’s led administration.

While advising Nigerians to be patient with the government as times are hard tasked the youths to abstain from activities that can cause further harm to the citizens, stating that they should exercise patience with the government as he stressed that the country would be great again.
“With the Tinubu government, Nigeria is funneled in the right direction, and all we need to do as Nigerians is to remain forbearing and keep hope alive as the better days we have been clamoring for are just around the corner.

“As youths, we should be clever and envisage a better nation in our minds that we are not used to causing violence in the country. Insecurity-wise, I urge us all to be sensitive and report any threat to the security of the nation to security agencies for prompt action”, he added.