President Bola Tinubu has said that there would be a time when Nigerians will applaud his administration for taking tough policies.
He made this remark on Saturday during the south-west assembly of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The summit was attended by leaders of the APC in the south-west geopolitical zone, including governors, deputy-governors, federal and state lawmakers, as well as former elected officials.
Whilst speaking at the event, Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff, who represented President Tinubu, said the reforms instituted by the present day administration have exposed the party to rampant criticism.
The president assured members of his party that his hard decisions would set the country on the path, noting that he appreciates the support shown to his administration.
He also said that he is not thinking about the 2027 election, rather he is focused on improving the lives of Nigerians and handing over a prosperous country to the next generation.
“We acknowledge that our decisions have been tough, but they needed to be taken. The gains are at the end of the tunnel,” the president said.
“That time will come when we will all be happy and thank our government for taking those decisions. Right now, I am not thinking of the next election but about the next generation.
“This is why we are implementing reforms that are long overdue. This is the hallmark of a true leader.”
Delivering his own his keynote address, former governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi stated the merger that led to the establishment of APC in 2013 was the first successful party coalition in the country since the first republic.
Fayemi said since the creation of the party, the APC has stayed in unison and won elections successively.
The former governor also said that the party must not take citizens for granted and see to it that wealth creation programmes are initiated for the people.
“Our party, particularly in the south-west should commit to the facilitation of wealth and employment creation for our people,” Fayemi said.
“We must expand social security and skills acquisition policies to enhance human development, embark on wholesale revamp of our education system to ensure it is fit for purpose, and the intensive fostering of measures aimed at expanding inclusivity for those who are objectively marginalised in the polity.
“While we can be proud of the road we have travelled since 2015, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels as a party or be complacent about anything.
“It is imperative that we openly and honestly acknowledge current challenges and develop a coherent and comprehensive plan that can enable us to confront them.
“This we must do by learning lessons of experience.
“We should also be ready to mobilise for the urgent and necessary task of rebuilding the hope of our compatriots both in project Nigeria and in our ability as a party committed to leading the charge against underdevelopment, disunity, and insecurity.”
In his own remark, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, said it is time for the party to reach a consensus and work in synergy for the pursuit of progress of the zone.
“Now is the time for us to live in unity and work together in pursuit of goals that will uplift our people,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“We must restore family values, confront youth restlessness and tackle the growing ‘get rich quick’ mindset.
“Our country is facing difficult times like many other countries but the good news is that the president is addressing these challenges with focus and determination.
“It is up to the citizens not to succumb to laziness, but to cooperate with the Government to achieve the swift recovery we all desire.”