President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed heartfelt gratitude to Nigerians for their support, prayers, and goodwill as he celebrated his 73rd birthday. Speaking at a special Iftar held in his honor at the Presidential Villa on Saturday night, Tinubu acknowledged the challenging journey to the presidency and reaffirmed his dedication to Nigeria’s progress.
Reflecting on his political path, the President recalled a moment during the 2023 election campaign when he briefly considered stepping down from the race following a conversation with a close relative.
“Those close to me know that the odds were stacked against me. During the campaigns, one of them visited my home around 3:30 a.m. and asked for N50,000 to buy food for our uncle,” Tinubu shared. “He said, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there’s no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for?’”
“I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you or our uncle.’ I gave him the N50,000. As he left, he said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it.’”
The President later learned that his uncle received the money, but the messenger had only given him N10,000, keeping the rest.
“At that moment, I almost gave up on running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who supported me, I persevered. When I got to Abuja, Masari said, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back,’” Tinubu recalled.
The President also highlighted the economic challenges he faced upon taking office, particularly the decision to remove the fuel subsidy on his inauguration day.
“On the day of my inauguration, I had to make a decision not originally in my speech—the removal of the fuel subsidy,” he explained. “The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared the subsidy was gone. The next day, I faced harsh media criticism, but I stood firm, knowing it was the right move for the future of our nation.”