Bola Tinubu: “I Took A Hard Blow To The Chin In My Journey To Become President

President Bola Tinubu has spoken about the intense challenges he faced in his journey to becoming Nigeria’s President, describing the experience as a difficult but determined political struggle.

According to Ireporter Online, Tinubu made the remarks on Friday in Lagos while receiving members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, on a Sallah homage at his residence.

The President said his path to the presidency was marked by significant obstacles, noting that he remained committed despite the difficulties involved. He expressed appreciation to several governors who supported him throughout the process, commending their loyalty, patience, and resilience.

“I took a punch in the chin, a very hard one. We stuck together the time I faced the challenge of trying to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Tinubu said, adding that the journey required sacrifice and trust among political allies.

He further explained that many of his supporters took political risks by standing with him based on party alignment and shared belief in his ambition, despite uncertainty at the time.

In a related development, Tinubu also restated that the removal of fuel subsidy was a necessary decision to prevent Nigeria from facing economic collapse and to stabilize the nation’s finances.

According to Ireporter Online, the President made the statement while hosting governors who visited him for Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and to mark the third anniversary of his administration. The meeting included governors and deputy governors from several states across the federation.

Tinubu acknowledged that the policy initially caused hardship, but maintained that it was essential for long-term national survival. He said Nigeria had since avoided bankruptcy and was now witnessing signs of economic recovery, including improvements in agriculture, infrastructure development, and macroeconomic stability.

He also praised state governors for supporting federal reforms and encouraging citizens to remain patient during the reform period, noting that many states were now more financially stable and less dependent on federal intervention.

The President further highlighted progress in road construction, rehabilitation of abandoned projects, and renewed investor confidence driven by reforms in fiscal policy, foreign exchange management, and social investment programmes.

Tinubu expressed optimism about Nigeria’s agricultural and housing sectors, stating that effective utilization of land resources could significantly improve food security and economic output.

He assured Nigerians that his administration would continue implementing policies aimed at job creation, economic growth, and reducing hardship across the country.