Vice-President Kashim Shettima said on Wednesday that President Bola Tinubu does not blame his predecessor, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, for the country’s challenges, adding that criticism of Buhari is “the easiest way” to anger the President.
Shettima made the remark while delivering President Tinubu’s keynote address at the Agricultural Development and Investment Summit in Abuja.
He said Tinubu had consistently taken responsibility for the actions and policies of his administration rather than attributing the country’s difficulties to previous governments.
“This country holds great potential and I dare to tell you that the President of Nigeria is a game changer. He has the courage of conviction to take far-reaching decisions, all in an effort to reposition the nation’s economy,” Shettima said.
“He is not someone who is fond of the blame game. For the past three years, the easiest way to anger President Tinubu is to criticise Muhammadu Buhari. No, the buck stops at his desk and he is ready to take responsibility for whatever comes out of his actions.”
Shettima said the administration had made progress in improving Nigeria’s economic position, citing an increase in the country’s foreign reserves.
“When we assumed the mantle of leadership we had less than $4 billion in our foreign reserves. Now we have crossed the Rubicon and we have over $50 billion and it’s growing, the highest in 17 years,” he said.
He acknowledged that the country continued to face inflationary pressures and security challenges but said the government was taking steps to address them.
“Yes, we have challenges of inflation, we have challenges of insecurity, but has the government folded its arms? The truthful answer is no,” he said.
