Tinubu to Nigerians: I’m correcting mistakes of past administrations, give me more time

ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has asked Nigerians to give his administration more opportunity to complete what he described as the “good work” it has started, saying his government is correcting the mistakes and missed opportunities of previous administrations.

Tinubu made the appeal through the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Friday at a special prayer session held at the National Mosque, Abuja, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The President said peace and development were gradually returning to the country, urging Nigerians not to lose hope.

According to him, Nigeria’s 66 years of independence represented a significant milestone, although the country’s journey had been characterised by both challenges and opportunities.

“This anniversary—the 66th—by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age,” he said.

“The person of 66 years cannot be called a child anymore. Nigeria has become mature, even though when we reflect on the journey from independence to date, we may say it was a mixed journey.

“Nigeria was bedevilled with a lot of issues in the past and opportunities as well. But we thank Almighty Allah for granting us the life and the peace for us to witness this very historic event today.”

Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain hopeful about the country’s future, saying peace and development would return as democracy continued to deepen.

“My message to the country on behalf of Mr President, the Senate President and all members of the National Assembly is that the citizens should not lose hope.

“Peace is coming back to this country. Development is coming back to this country. Things will get better as we progress in this democracy.”

He said the administration was focused on addressing what he described as the cumulative mistakes and missed opportunities of previous governments.

“More importantly, citizens should look at the focus of the government of today, that the mistakes of the past—the cumulative mistakes and the missed opportunities of the past—are being corrected in this particular administration,” he said.

Tinubu also said Nigeria was on the right path and that citizens had made the sacrifices necessary for the country to become great again.

“And I want to categorically make it clear that Nigeria is on the right path; that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that Nigerians have finished making sacrifices for this country to be great again.

“We should give this government more opportunity for it to come back and finish the good work.”

The appeal comes ahead of the 2027 general elections, when Tinubu is seeking another term in office.

The Federal Government has said the 66th Independence Anniversary is being marked with a series of activities, including religious services, a public lecture and a nationwide broadcast by the President on October 1.

Senior government officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, state governors, members of the National Assembly, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and military chiefs, attended the prayer session.