Nigeria is on the verge of economic recovery and prosperity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on Monday.
He lamented past decades of waste and theft of public resources by a few people under the subsidy regime.
The President is confident that the pains of subsidy removal and harsh economic conditions will soon disappear.
According to him, Nigerians will savour improved public services and infrastructural development this year.
President Tinubu spoke at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, capital of Imo State, where eminent Nigerians converged for the second-term swearing-in of Governor Hope Uzodimma, and his deputy, Lady Ihuoma Ekomaru.
The oath of office was administered to them by the Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka
The historic ceremony was witnessed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas; his deputy Benjamin Kalu, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
For the first time since he assumed the reins on May 29, last year, President Tinubu and Obasanjo, who opposed his presidential bid, met.
Sitting between them as they exchanged pleasantries was Akpabio.
Dignitaries also included Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Alex Otti (Abia), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Rev. Ft Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmad Sokoto (Sokoto) and the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
Also at the ceremony were the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji; former Imo State Governors Rochas Okorocha and Ikedi Ohakim; Senator Uche Ekwunife, Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi V; Jaja of Opobo; Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Chairman Traditional Rulers Council, Southeast, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
The President, who arrived at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport at 1:19 pm, inaugurated the 10-kilometer Bola Tinubu Drive at the airport amid cheers from dignitaries.
Promising that post-subsidy pains would soon end, he said: “I stand before you to say you have gone through twists and turns of democracy. You have been through some aspects of hard decisions.
“Each time I watch the news and see one pain or the other associated with the removal of subsidy, just remember that among you, your families, are pregnant people.
“The day of birth is the day of pain. You go through the labour pain, but when you see or hear the voice of the baby, your pains are gone and you are relieved.
“In the last 40 years, some very few people have been cornering our commonwealth, calling it subsidy.
“I call it wastefulness and pilfering. But right now, we are going through the pain, we are sharing that pain.”
President Tinubu added: ”Today, we are inaugurating a man’s second term, a renewed hope and that is why I am here, to guarantee you that hope, that things are looking up, things are getting better and it will get greater and better for the common good of the Nigerian public.
“We just need to work hard, be more patient, persevere and have consistency in governance.”
The President said his programmes in the areas of education, health and security would soon begin to yield positive results.
He said: “I assure you, there will be substantial developments in the education of your children. You will see the priority in industrialisation. Healthcare will receive more allocation and attention. Don’t worry about what you’re hearing about the ‘Japa Syndrome’, we will train more people.
“The relative peace that you are enjoying here will be better and we will work hard with you to achieve that peace.
“Before now, every one of us was enveloped in fear to come to Imo State, but today Imo is safe and ready for business.”
The President commended Uzodimma for his stewardship, describing him as the “real hope” of the state.
He added: “It is a great honour for me to be here in Imo State. And to congratulate the people of Imo for being discerning and determined to vote him for a second term, a very unique individual who resonates with a progressive agenda, Senator Hope Uzodinma.”
An elated Uzodinma, who was accompanied by his wife, Chioma, and children, promised to deepen prosperity in the state through infrastructural expansion and accelerated growth.
The governor said he had signalled the new direction in this year’s budget by allocating to capital expenditure the lion’s share of N491.2 billion of the total of N592.2 billion, representing 83 per cent of the total budget.
He said the transformational journey, which had commenced with the 2024 budget, and anchored on the 10-year Development Plan, would be sustained in the next four years.
Uzodimma stressed: “This development plan can transform Imo State into an industrial, self-sufficient state in the next 10 years.
“In the development plan, we have identified priority sectors, including industries and projects, which will accelerate the economic prosperity of our dear Imo State such as the Orashi Free Trade Zone and the supporting businesses such as petrochemicals industries, gas processing facilities, etc.
“Another focus of the plan is to harness our agricultural potential and exploit the mineral resources and align them to the proposed establishment of ceramic industry and agro-processing facilities across the three senatorial districts of Imo State.”
The governor, who promised to exceed his first term record, said: “My second tenure achievements will dwarf the achievements of my first tenure”.
Uzodimma said he was inspired by the visionary transformational policies and programmes of President Tinubu
He said: “I have been greatly inspired by the audacious and visionary transformational programmes and policies of President Tinubu.
“His emphasis on infrastructure development, through generous budgetary provisions for capital expenditure, defined the qualities of a leader who is burning with the fervent desire to develop his country.
“I am, therefore, delighted to affirm that my second tenure will be centred on the massive economic development of the state, which will permeate every community or ward.”
Uzodimma said his administration, in the next few weeks, would kick off the initiative through the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI).
He added: “Consequently, within the first 12 months of the current tenure, every community in the state will feel the impact with at least one significant project fully executed for them.”
