The Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed his belief that Nigerians will come to fully appreciate President Bola Tinubu’s leadership in the coming decades. In a birthday tribute penned on Saturday, Keyamo described the president as a master of fostering progressive coalitions for the advancement of democracy, adding that the piece was meant to serve as a testament for future generations.
Keyamo highlighted the long-term impact of Tinubu’s contributions to the Nigerian political landscape. “From an insider perspective, I dare say it will take decades before Nigerians truly and fully understand and appreciate the value President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has brought into our democratic space in all ramifications and the audacity with which he has taken on some of our key systemic challenges as a nation, root and branch,” Keyamo wrote.
The minister reflected on Tinubu’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s post-colonial democratic journey, emphasizing his efforts to foster unity in the face of challenges. “Doubtless, in post-colonial Nigeria, he has been a master at fostering progressive coalitions for the ultimate advancement of democracy,” Keyamo stated. He went on to highlight Tinubu’s significant role in the formation of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which played a key part in ousting the military and restoring democratic governance in the country.
Keyamo also recalled Tinubu’s involvement in the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013, describing it as a major step in rebalancing Nigeria’s political system. “Secondly, he was at it again in 2015 when he inspired and rallied the biggest coalition of political parties in history to form the APC and oust the overly dominant PDP from power, thus re-balancing our democratic system,” Keyamo noted.
The tribute also touched on Tinubu’s resilience, especially his struggle to secure the APC presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 election, despite his instrumental role in the party’s formation. “Despite that, he still had to struggle hard to win the Presidential ticket of the same APC in 2022 and battled even harder to win the presidential polls in 2023 before becoming the President of this great country,” Keyamo remarked.
Keyamo also praised Tinubu’s bold decisions since assuming office, including the controversial removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the Naira. These reforms, according to the minister, are already leaving a lasting impact on Nigeria’s future. “Through Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria is now headed in the right direction,” Keyamo stated. “It can now be seen that he has been motivated over the years by one clear vision: a Nigeria on a genuinely sustainable path of economic growth and development.”
Keyamo expressed confidence that the country’s economic growth will accelerate in the coming years, with positive outcomes for job creation and the stability of the middle class. “Now, we are clearly headed in the right direction as a country as developments in different sectors will be rapid in the few years to come because of the rise in our liquidity. Our macro-economic indicators are looking up, and these will eventually impact on jobs and ultimately ensure the revival and stability of the middle class,” Keyamo concluded.
