Tinubu To FG: This Is No Time For Austerity, Introduce Stimulus

All Progressive Congress (APC), National Leader, Bola Tinubu has called on the Federal Government to introduce a stimulus package to Nigerians suffering amidst the COVID-19 pandemic rather than preaching austerity and frugality all the time.

The APC Chieftain who made this known at the 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in commemoration of his 69th birthday in Kano on Monday said Nigerians are tired of fasting.

Speaking at the event with the theme, ‘Our Common Bond, Our Common Wealth: The Imperative of National Cohesion for Growth and Prosperity,’ the former governor of Lagos said the United States had released a stimulus package of $1.9tn to its citizens and more was on the way, adding that such was the way to go.

He stated, “It is time to put stimulus in place. This is no time for austerity. I hope you listen carefully. This is not the time to constrain the economy. This is the time to create the opportunity.

“If you hear America spending $1.9tn and they are not looking back and they are still asking for $3tn for infrastructure and renewal and creating jobs and your own unemployment rate is 33 per cent and you ask us to keep on fasting. We are not fasting any more.

“We have been fasting for many years. I hope the National Assembly; I hope the President himself will not pay attention to austerity.”

READ MORE: Tinubu At 69 : An Icon Of Democracy, True Elder Statesman - South-West Governors

He noted that the high rate of unemployment had made banditry and terrorism attractive to the youths. He, however,  urged the Federal Government to recruit at least 50 million youths into the Nigerian Army to boost Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, banditry and all forms of internal and external security threats confronting the nation.

He added, “We are under-policed and we are competing with armed robbers and bandits to recruit from the youths who are unemployed – 33 per cent unemployed?” Recruit 50 million youths into the army.”

The APC chieftain, while reacting to statistics by the National Bureau of Statistics that over 23 million Nigerians are jobless, also urged the government to create jobs for youths in the agricultural value chains.

He said, “Don’t talk about illiteracy; anybody who can handle a gun, who can cock and shoot is technically competent to repair a tractor in the farm.”

The former Lagos State governor, however, saluted “very creative” youths in the country, saying, “They are angry, they are showing their anger, but we will appeal to them.”

However, reacting to the recent rise in secessionist agitation, Tinubu said he chose Kano State as the venue of the colloquium to prove to Nigerians that the Yoruba and Fulani people were united.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Lauds Ganduje For ‘Fighting Corruption’ In Kano

Tinubu, who is rumoured to be nursing a Presidential ambition, also made a veiled reference to the marriage of the daughter of Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; to the son of the late Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, which took place in Kano in 2018.

He said this showed the unity between people of different ethnic groups.

The APC leader said, “Why are we in Kano? It is to demonstrate to Nigerians at this critical time. It is because there is a Fulani man, a herder (man) who gave his daughter to a farmer, (a) Yoruba man… and some people are agitating wrongly.”

The former governor argued that if Nigeria broke into smaller countries, he would not be able to visit Kano without a visa.

Tinubu said, “I was encouraged to spend a couple of days with my brother and in-law in Kano and demonstrate that he has not quarrelled with me, he has not seceded from Nigeria, I didn’t need a passport or visa to get to Kano; maybe others will have peace of conscience, live in peace and harmony and be loving to one another. That is what Ganduje and I are showing to Nigerians and that is the purpose of this colloquium, end of the story.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari said all Nigerians had agreed that they were better and stronger together despite what he called occasional inter-ethnic tensions.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said this virtually at the colloquium.

The President said his experience of working in all parts of the country showed possibilities of a strong, united nation.

He added, “I can also relate personally to the ideals of one Nigeria. As a military officer, I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country. I have seen over and over again that their goodness or failings did not depend on ethnicity or religion.”

The President said in the course of his career, he had seen the possibilities of a strong, united nation. “More importantly, I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war of 1967 to 1970, and I saw first-hand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just on fellow soldiers on both sides, but on the civilians; innocent children, women and elderly citizens that they left behind.

“As we all know, the peace-building, recovery and reconstruction that followed could also not have succeeded under an atmosphere of inter-ethnic animosity. We must count our blessings in Nigeria and see in them the crucial factors of peace and unity.”

Buhari also said leaders and followers must be ready to ensure that justice and harmony reign in the country, saying everybody “has a stake in the Nigeria project.”

Also, Osinbajo, who attended the event virtually, faulted those agitating for the secession of parts of the country, noting that attendees of the event in Kano would have needed a visa to visit the state.

The Vice-President said, “Only a few days ago, we were set to have a completely virtual colloquium with a hub in Lagos, the customary location of the colloquium when Governor Abdullahi Ganduje graciously offered to host the physical aspect of the hybrid colloquium.

 “By this gesture, Governor Ganduje has helped us to tell two stories; this is the first time that the colloquium is being hosted outside Lagos and Abuja. And it is befitting that Kano should be that place; this city of radical and progressive ideas and ideologies, a city whose leading political lights have been left of centre, which is the dominant tendency within our great party the All Progressives Congress.

“Second, it helps us to underscore the point that this country and its people are stronger and more powerful together than apart.”

Also speaking, Sanwo-Olu said the present crop of politicians and public office holders had a lot of leadership values to learn from Tinubu.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on behalf of Governors and APC chieftains who could not physically attend the colloquium because of bad weather.

He said, “We have listened to all the great speakers today but your comments still resonate and I am sure it will resonate with all of us for a very long time. Very classic Asiwaju and you have explained to us in three to five minutes, what true federalism is. You reiterated to us what it means with peaceful coexistence among ourselves.”