“I Was Stubborn at the Beginning of My Administration” – Tinubu Confesses
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has admitted that he showed some level of stubbornness during the early days of his administration while trying to implement key policies and reforms.
The President made the remark during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives held at the Presidential Villa.
The gathering formed part of activities during the Ramadan season and provided an opportunity for the President to interact directly with members of the media.
Speaking during the meeting, Tinubu said he closely follows the work of journalists and remains attentive to reports published in newspapers across the country. According to him, reading the press has become part of his daily routine.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.”
The President noted that in the early months of his administration, he deliberately pushed hard to identify opportunities to fix long-standing challenges affecting Nigerians, especially the poor. He admitted that his determination sometimes appeared as stubbornness.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.”
Tinubu also used the occasion to speak about reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s federal structure. He said efforts have been made to allow local governments receive their allocations directly from the Federal Government.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” Tinubu said.
However, the President urged journalists to continue holding public officials accountable, especially at the grassroots level where the impact of governance is most directly felt by citizens.
