President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said the 10-year rule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) saved Nigeria from collapse.
Mr Tinubu said this in Owerri at the presentation of a book entitled “One Decade of Progressive, Impactful Leadership in Nigeria,” authored by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo.
In a speech, Mr Tinubu said the book launch was significant, as it reflected the collective efforts and sacrifices of progressive minds over the past decade, starting with the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
He commended Mr Uzodimma for his thoughtfulness, vision, and achievements in infrastructure, as well as for taking on the challenge of writing the book.
“By recording the milestones and struggles of the 10 years we have gone through, he has given Nigeria a gift,” Mr Tinubu stated.
He added, “No nation can afford to forget its own journey, for which no leader should escape the beauty of confidence.”
The president expressed confidence that Nigeria was no longer where it was 10 years ago under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, following the stabilisation of the nation’s economy, it grew by 4.23 per cent in the second quarter of the year.
“That growth is with purpose, not just on paper. It is real growth. Inflation has fallen to 20.12 per cent in August, the lowest in more than three years.
“You may not feel it yet. Be patient. I thank you for your endurance, patience, and perseverance. Nigeria is changing for the better, and you will feel the better days,” the president said.
He added that the nation’s external reserve currently stood at $42.03 billion, the highest since 2019.
Mr Tinubu noted that it was proof that the country was regaining its strength and credibility in the global economy.
“Our trade surplus rose by more than 44 per cent in the last quarter, while manufacturing exports surged by 173 per cent. These numbers speak of a Nigeria that is producing, exporting, and competing more than ever before,” he said.
He said the naira had steadied under the exchange reform, with new investment flows restoring confidence in the economy.
“The last decade was a time of change; the coming decade will be an era of renewal and stability that will ensure victory for the country,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr Uzodimma said the book offered an “honest writing” on the APC’s journey in government from 2015 to 2025, detailing its milestones, challenges, and lessons.
The governor said he was inspired by curiosity and a duty to document APC’s performance after 10 years in office.
“The party inherited a fragile economy, deep security challenges, and a weary citizenry,” he noted.
Mr Uzodimma recounted the president’s role as the “arrowhead” in the 2013 formation of the APC, which “ousted an incumbent government in 2015.”
“His ideas and his persistence shaped the progressive family,” the governor stated.
The governor stressed the party was built on values of “equity, inclusion, service, and discipline.”
Mr Uzodimma called on all Nigerians to “rally behind this progressive extraordinaire, President Bola Tinubu, in 2027.”
The national chairman of APC, Nentawe Yilwatsa, said the party had proved that Nigeria needed more than previous political parties had offered.
(NAN)