Nigeria First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has reassured the country’s commitment to ensuring economic growth, development and stability.
She stated this when she paid a private visit to the two former heads of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and General Abdulsalam Abubakar at their uphill residence in Minna.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commended the country’s former leaders for their role in maintaining stability, particularly during the tense period
Senator Oluremi Tinubu explained that the visit was private hence there is the need to appreciate and applaud the efforts of the two heads of state for playing a fatherly role during the twenty twenty three presidential election.
She emphasized that former leaders are the fathers of the nation and that current leaders should honour and respect them, clarifying that her visit was not politically motivated.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, at his Uphill residence in Minna, she noted that Abdulsalami has consistently offered encouragement to President Bola Tinubu.
“I haven’t seen Daddy (Abdulsalami) and mummy for a long time. We did not make it here when we were campaigning and we feel it is rude for us to be talking to them on the phone. From where I am coming from it is not respectful. It is only right for a Nigerian who has a proper upbringing to come and greet them.
“General Abdulsalami is doing a lot for us trying to juggle and stabilise the government to an extent because with subsidy removal, people were getting agitated but we thank them for the patience because if they do not believe that we can do it, it is not what we should be talking about now.
“Daddy (Abdulsalami) has always encouraged Mr President, so it is only right for us to come and visit him. When I went to Abeokuta, I went to see Baba even though he wasn’t there, but he said he would come and see me in Lagos. It is right for me to come here and greet them because they are the fathers of our nation, the patriarchs of this great nation, it is good for us to pay our respect. It is nothing political, it is just respect for me and Hajiya Shetimma. That is why we do not have any entourage like the Governors’ wives accompanying us. It is a private visit”, she stated.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, appreciated the visit by the president’s Wife, applauding her for her interventions, which have placed Nigeria in a positive light to the world.
He described her as the number one Ambassador of Nigeria, commending her for carrying the wives of the Governors and the wives of former leaders of the nation along in her programmes and interventions.
“It is a pressure for the First Lady to come and visit us. She has been planning to come and pay her respects to us. I want to thank the First Lady for what she is doing and will continue to do especially for the young children, the motherless and the orphans.
She has done very well during her first and second years in office, she has done the Nigerian fabric, and she has done a lot of things to bring out Nigeria and place a positive image of Nigeria to Nigerians and the world. She is Nigeria’s number one Ambassador.
The first lady moved from the airport to the Uphill residence of the former Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as soon he got to Minna, where she had a closed-door meeting with IBB for about 35 minutes before proceeding to the residence of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The First Lady was accompanied by the wife of the Vice President Hajiya Nana Shettima amongst top government officials.
