News
Reviewing President Tinubu’s 64th Independence Day Speech By Reno Omokiri
The President started his speech by showing empathy. Saying he understands the challenges Nigerians face as his administration returns the economy and devolves power. It was a commendable start to his Independence Day speech.
President Tinubu fessed up to the country’s mistakes, and talked about how he and his government would address them. By going into details of the progress they have made in the last sixteen months, he gave Nigerians and our international partners some relief and confidence about the future.
I quite like how he tied the improvement in security to agriculture, especially in the North and how farmers are beginning to return to farms in places where terror hindered their activities. And by speaking in particular about how he will give hope to the people of Borno as they face additional flooding issues, he gave the people of Borno confidence to face the future.
Taking about how his government has reduced the debt service ratio from 97% to the mid-60s, as well as paying the backlog of forex debts to foreign direct investors, while at the same time increasing our foreign reserves will definitely excite investors, and is likely to spur more FDI in Nigeria.
The emphasis on CNG vehicles as an alternative means to PMS is positive. The President ought to have gone into more detail on this to give Nigerians further hope. He should have given specific numbers of how many vehicles have been introduced, how many more his government plans to introduce, ahd maybe commend Innoson Vehicles for buying into this vision, and a bit more detail.
The National Youth Conference is a pleasant surprise. To last thirty days. This will reinvigorate patriotism and commitment amongst our youth. This is perhaps the best part of the search. The President pulled a special rabbit out of his hat. He says the selection of delegates will be announced soon. We hope and pray that it will be done in conjunction with credible youth groups. Kudos to President Tinubu!
The President kept it short and simple. He touched on security, the economy, youths, his plans to actualise the financial autonomy granted to Local Governments, planned investments in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, and fiscal and monetary reforms, which have had positive and verifiable impacts on our economy. Overall, it was a good speech. President Tinubu spoke for twenty-three minutes and showed he was aware of the credit of things in the nation.
He projected more confidence and ease than before, and spoke like the leader of all of Africa, not just Nigeria, stating that it is Nigeria’s destiny to provide meaningful leadership for the continent. He left the nation feeling better about his administration’s plans for them and future generations. Again, a good speech.
Reno Omokri
#TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years. Hodophile. Hollywood Magazine Humanitarian of the Year, 2019. Business Insider Influencer of the Year 2022.