………..Says President’s decisions saved many states from bankruptcy.
FIC Report (Nasarawa State) – Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has revealed that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu displayed uncommon courage by taking the proverbial bullet for the nation through his decision to remove the fuel subsidy and unify the foreign exchange windows.
Governor Sule made this assertion in Lafia while playing host to the management team of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), North Central Zone, led by the Zonal Director, Barrister Babayo Askira, at the Government House.
According to the Governor, the tough economic decisions taken by the President on his first day in office were necessary to burst the bubble the country was living in and return the nation to the path of reality.
“Every time I speak about how Nasarawa State is able to breathe, I must show great appreciation to the man who took the bullet on our behalf, and that is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He took two very difficult decisions at the same time—the unification of the foreign exchange rate and the removal of fuel subsidy. These are decisions very few leaders in the world would agree to take,” the Governor stated.
The Governor further Sule explained that such politically risky moves are usually avoided by first-term leaders who wait until a second term to implement them.
He described the President as a different breed of leader for taking the decisions on his first day in office.
“We must commend him. It is not a popular statement, especially with the opposition and those speaking big grammar. They will tell you that Tinubu is bad and that there is too much pain. But the truth is, we were not living in reality; we were living a fake life. We were living on a bubble that was going to burst. He has taken us to where we truly belong,” he said.
The Governor noted that while the policies brought temporary hardship, the results are beginning to show, pointing out that many states that would have been declared bankrupt due to their foreign exchange-linked borrowings are now able to breathe because of the improved revenue coming to states following the President’s decisions.
“A lot of people won’t believe that just a little over a year ago, our inflation rate was over 30 percent. Today, inflation is less than 15 percent. It is not magic. It’s hard work and a lot of efforts,” he said.
Addressing his own fiscal discipline, Governor Sule revealed that he deliberately avoided bank loans during his first tenure due to the dangers associated with foreign exchange risks.
He explained that many of his colleagues who borrowed when the exchange rate was N350 to the dollar are now struggling to repay at over N1000 to the dollar.
“Coming from the private sector, you have to be very careful about borrowings. I was scared of borrowing because most of them were tied to foreign exchange. Luckily for us, Nasarawa State did not borrow anything then. That is why we can breathe properly today, and we also have the improved revenue coming to states to thank for saving many others from bankruptcy,” he added.
The Governor also welcomed the Zonal Director back to Nasarawa State, appreciating him for ensuring that the FRCN zonal office remains in the state.
He lamented the constant struggle to retain federal establishments in Nasarawa, noting that the state often loses out because it lacks enough people to fight for its interests at the centre.
He commended the FRCN for its role in maintaining the peace and unity in the state, acknowledging that the good people of Nasarawa, traditional rulers, security agencies, and media organization’s have all contributed to the prevailing peace.
Earlier in his remarks, the FRCN North Central Zonal Director, Barrister Babayo Askira, who is not new to the state having served as General Manager of Precious FM Lafia between 2008 and 2010, said the visit was to familiarise himself with the government and appreciate the Governor’s support for the corporation.
Barrister Askira expressed amazement at the level of transformation witnessed across the state, saying he could barely recognise some places due to the massive infrastructural development from Karu to Keffi and up to Akwanga.
He specifically praised the Mararaba flyover and lauded the Governor’s maintenance of peace and security, describing him as a leader par excellence.
To further support the administration, the Zonal Director announced the introduction of an English version of the Hausa programme Nasarawa Ayau on Precious FM, explaining that the initiative is aimed at carrying the non-Hausa speaking communities along by showcasing the development strides of the government.
As the 2027 general elections approach, Barrister Askira assured that the FRCN would intensify efforts in educating the public on government policies, good governance, and civic responsibility, while maintaining professionalism and objectivity.
Signed
ARI,LIMAN AMINU.
HEAD OF CENTRE,
FIC, LAFIA
