Coalition members ‘political IDPs,’ don’t house them, Tinubu urges Nasarawa people

NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia

President Bola Tinubu has urged the people of Nasarawa State not to give any attention to politicians bandying together to send him out of office in the 2027 election, describing them as ‘political IDPs’

Tinubu spoke in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State on Wednesday after inaugurating projects executed by the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The President accused members of the coalition of triggering politics of 2027 with their bandying together in form of opposition to defeat him in the speech delivered at town hall meeting with key stakeholders at the Banquet Hall of the Government House.

The President spoke of the Nasarawa’s “great complexities” which aligns with the thinking of the wordings of the Nigerian National anthem.

He said the state has the “diversity of people, culture and prosperity,” and that he was very proud to be here.

He promised to return to Nasarawa to celebrate with all for “The emerging Nigeria and coming up. We have turned a corner. We have come out of depression, of uncertainty. We’ve cut the waste. You’ve listened to Dele Alake, I won’t go much on the economic dynamism that we have fixed but, it is here.”

President Tinubu praised the governor for his hard work and determination to use the resources available to him for the “benefit and prosperity of Nasarawa State. Sule is doing well because a Bola Tinubu is doing well too.”

“Those who have triggered the early politics in the form of coalition, please don’t pay them any attention. They’re the political IDPs. Don’t give them a home, the home is here,” Tinubu said.

“I’m not ready for what they are trying to impose on me—an early political campaign. But who is a politician that will keep quiet when gangsterism is forming a coalition to unseat him?”

“Sule is doing well. We will support whoever Governor brings about, to work harder for the prosperity and renaissance of Nasarawa State,” he promised.

He noted that although his visited had nothing to do with politics, he spoke because no politician would sit by silently watching opponents try to unseat him.

The President who arrived in Lafia in the afternoon cut the tape to open the new flyover and underpass Jos Road as the first project he commissioned.

Speaking at the occasion, President Tinubu thanked the governor for the judicious application of resources which has led to the completion of the projects.

“It is a great honour for me to be here, feeling at home, feeling very welcomed and to inaugurate this project. I salute the prudent management of resources, commitment to value, even by the governor of our dear State,” he said before cutting the tape.

Earlier, Governor Sule noted that the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration have enabled states like his to earn enough money to accomplish projects of this magnitude.

“It is because of your reforms that gave us the opportunity to pay for this do this project 100 percent and we have paid off 100percent, all without owing one naira, because your reforms that we have been able to do that in a state like Nasarawa. For that reason, we name it Bola Ahmed Tinubu Interchange.”

The President also commissioned the new state secretariat conceived and executed by the Sule administration. At the venue, President Tinubu thanked the women for their ability to multi-task and for being the backbone of the society, thanking them for their services not just to their families but to humanity. He called on them to continue on that trajectory.

He praised the efforts of the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman, in working to bring about an improved welfare for women.

The President was also billed to distribute electric vehicles, tractors and other equipment to security agencies, traditional rulers, among others. He also inaugurated the Uthman Dan Fodio Cargo Airport.

Addressing the President and the stakeholders, Governor Sule said the removal of subsidy on petrol and the liberalization of the foreign exchange regime has put more money in the coffers of state governments.

This, he noted has empowered him to execute various projects across the State. He enumerated the gains made in the mining sector and the companies springing up in the State.

He called on the President to mandate the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to return to the drilling site in Obi Local Government Area of the State and continue drilling for oil.

“So far, there is an exploration oil well that was going on in Obi Local Government Area f the State. there has been a discovery of hydrocarbon in excess of one billion in that site. We are asking you, Your Excellency, to ensure that they come back and drill the next exploration well, the appraisal well and the development package so that we can start producing oil from that site.”