Tinubu, Shettima sworn in

By Bintu Jidda
Kanempress
30th May 2023

Bola Tinubu has been sworn in as Nigerian President, alongside Kashim Shettima as Vice President of Nigeria.

Their Oath of Office was administered by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, on Monday.

Tinubu, was a former Senator and governor of Lagos State. He as declared the winner of the February 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Speaking further, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, praised his predecessor, former leader Muhammadu Buhari , who have been an honest, patriotic leader and partner, who has done his best for Nigeria he loves.

President Tinubu said that his administration shall govern on behalf of Nigerians and never rule over.

He said he will extend the courtesy worthy of a fellow compatriot to his opponents in the February 25 election which brought him to power.

He also argued that Nigeria had not had a better election that the recently concluded one in its history.

“My victory does not render me more Nigerian than the rest of you. It also does not render my opponents less Nigerjan than me. I will treat my opponents, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, as important compatriots,” Tinubu said in his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja.

Subsidy is gone – Tinubu declares

….targets 6 % annual GDP growth

President Tinubu announced that his administration will remove the subsidy on Petroleum products.

“Subsidy is gone” Tinubu exclaimed at his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja, shortly after sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria.

President Tinubu said there was no provision for subsidy in the national budget from June 2023 and, therefore, it stands removed.

“We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.”

He further stated that his administration targets minimum GDP growth of six per cent annually.

The President also promised to lead the country with “compassion and towards all.”

“In economy, we’ll target not less than 6 per cent growth in GDP growth. We’ll do this through budgetary reforms. We’ll use a full range of domestic manufacturing and lessen importation,” Tinubu said in his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja.

He promised to boost foreign direct investment by reviewing all complaints about multiple taxations.

“To our foreign investors, our government will review all complaints about multiple taxations. All businesses will be allowed to repatriate hard-earned profits back home,” Tinubu added.

The former Lagos Governor had earlier taken the oath of office as the 16th President of Nigeria alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima.

His administration shall consult and dialogue but never dictate. It shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

President Tinubu charged Nigerians to recommit themselves to placing Nigeria in their hearts as the indispensable home for each and every one regardless of creed, ethnicity, or place of birth.

The President thanked his supporters, and those who voted otherwise, as he extend his hand across the political divide in national affinity and brotherhood.

He said his mission is to improve the way of life in a manner which nurtures humanity, encourages compassion toward one another, and duly rewards the collective effort to resolve the social ills which seek to divide the people.

As president, Tinubu said he shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all.

Speaking further, president Tinubu said Nigeria will be impartially governed according to the constitution and the rule of law.

The President said his administration will defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality which threaten the peace and stability of Nigeria and the subregion.

Similarly, the president said his administration would remodel Nigeria’s economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty.

President Tinubu vowed to end the fuel subsidy regime amongst other things.

He said Women and youth as sectors will feature prominently and government will continue to take proactive steps such as championing a credit culture to discourage corruption while strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the various anti-corruption agencies.

Other sectors: SECURITY

On Security, President Tinubu said it shall be the top priority of his administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

According to the president , to effectively tackle this menace, his administration shall reform both the security doctrine and its architecture.

“ We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay and firepower.

THE ECONOMY

“On the economy, we will target a higher GDP growth and to significantly reduce unemployment.

“We intend to accomplish this by taking the following steps:

“First, budgetary reform stimulating the economy without engendering inflation will be instituted.”

“Second, industrial policy will utilize the full range of fiscal measures to promote domestic manufacturing and lessen import dependency.”

“Third, electricity will become more accessible and affordable to businesses and homes alike. Power generation should nearly double and transmission and distribution networks improved. We will encourage states to develop local sources as well.

The candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, who polled a total of 6,984,520 votes in the election while Peter Obi of the Labour Party came third in the election with a total of 6,101,533 votes and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 votes.