The journey started on May 29th at Eagle Square in Abuja, where the newly sworn in President, Bola Tinubu in his inaugural speech made the historic announcement on the removal of fuel subsidy.
As expected, it sent shock waves throughout the entire nation with the immediate increase in pump price of fuel despite the fact that what is being sold at the filling stations were old stocks bought at old depot price.
Hours after the inevitable removal of the fuel subsidy, the prices of consumable went high while that of Transportation also hit the sky. However, there is high hope that the pump price of fuel which the lowest is at N488 per litre will drop due to various measure put in place by the Federal Government.
Dangote Refinery which is starting in few months time will surely crash the fuel price and douse the tension faced by Nigerians.
The first official assignment carried out by Mr President was the directive to men of the Department of State Service, DSS to end the blatant invasion of the EFCC office in Lagos.
The agelong rivalry between the two critical agencies of government allowed to fester during the last administration, I believe will have no space to rare its ugly head again under the new Sherrif in town.
Members of the striking health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU met with the President to discuss reasons behind their 21 day old strike and decided to call off the action. The leadership of the Health worker at the end of the meeting announced the suspension of the strike. This is not a magic but a clear demonstration from day one in keeping to the RENEWED HOPE promise by President Bola Tinubu.
The President summoned the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa and the Managing Director of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari to the seat of power. The strategic meetings were held without the full glare of the camera.
The next crucial meeting called by the President was with the Service Chiefs where he gave a directive to them to end insecurity facing the nation. The National Security Adviser, General Babangana Monguno told newsmen after the meeting that the President ordered the Service Chiefs to up their game in the tackling security menace in the country.
The Progressives Governor’s Forum led by Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu. At the meeting, the President charged them to accord priority to delivering their campaign promises to the people.
The first meeting with the National Economic Council headed by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima took place with the President urging them to work out modalities on the palliative for Nigerians following the removal of fuel subsidy.
As a follow up to the meeting of the National Economic Council, the President had a session with the major Independent Oil Marketers. The leader of the team Dame Winfred Akpan assured the President of provision of Mass Transit Buses nationwide as the immediate intervention to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy on the people.
The first set of Appointments including that of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the Chief of Staff, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila and Senator Ibrahim Hadejia the Deputy Chief Staff who is the former Deputy Governor of Jigawa state, were made.
Former Benue state Governor, Senator George Akume has since been sworn in and resumed duty.
In order to ensure hitch free election of the leadership of the National Assembly, the President had a closed door meeting with the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase and later with the House of Representatives members-elect.
The annointed candidates of the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress for the leadership of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abass were at the Villa to seek audience with Mr President. The Chief of Staff to the President and immediate past Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila was also at the meeting.
For the second time in two weeks, former Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike met behind closed door with the President.
Then, it was the turn of the 36 State Governors to meet with the President. The President told them to put politics behind them anytime they are in the Villa adding that they must work in synergy with the Federal Government to reduce the sufferings faced by the people. The Chairman of the Governors Forum and Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq led his colleagues to the meeting.
Within the period under review, Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana engaged with President Tinubu in Aso Rock where issues on rule of Law and citizens rights was discussed.
The Governor of Enugu state, Peter Mba paid a visit to the President and demanded for immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Plateau state Governor, Mr Caleb Mutwang followed suit by meeting with the President over recurring violent attacks on the people of the state. He told newsmen that he was at Aso Rock to brief the number one citizen on the mindless killings of innocent and armless citizens of the state.
However, on his third visit to the Villa, former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike led othe members of the G5 including Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde and former Governors of Abia, Enugu and Benue state; Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Samuel Ortom to the Villa.
The first two weeks of President Bola Tinubu also witnrssed the signing of the Unanimous Wage and Retirement Bill into Law. The President reiterated his commitment to the sustenance of rule of Law in the overall benefits of Nigerians.
The first official assignment performed by the President on Friday June 9th was the signing of the historic Electricity Bill nto Law to break the National monopoly of the PHCN and boost renewable energy in the country. The law also allows the sub nationals to generate power for their domestic consumption.
During his tenure as the Lagos State Governor, the President introduced Independent Power Project with Enron but was never allowed to fly by the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Thank God, its a new dawn of breath of fresh air in our fatherland.
Strategic meeting between the President and the first class Traditional Rulers from the six Geo political zones of the country was the second assignment for the day. The forum provides opportunity for the President to further highlights the reasons behind the subsidy removal. According to him, it was clear that the country will find it difficult to attend to basic needs of the people if the fuel subsidy is not removed. He also solicited their support on the party’s candidates for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly. On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar the third solicited the full support of Nigerians towards the successful tenure of the Tinubu Presidency. For the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi asked the President to empower the Traditional Rulers in curbing insecurity in their localities.
Before leaving the office for home in the Villa, the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso had a closed door session with the President. As expected, he briefed Mr President on the alleged misrule by the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje. As the President was ending the meeting with the NNPP leader, the former Kano Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje took his turn. He later told newsmen that he would have dealt with Rabiu Kwankwaso if he had met him in the Villa.
The final official assignment carried out by Mr President was the directive to suspend the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele. This directive was in a statement issued by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Geroge Akume.
Nigerians are happy with the news that the President stays in the office beyond regular working hours to attend to official duties bothering on fixing the liabilities inherited from the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
It is a new beginning which could be tough but in the end, smiles will return to the faces of Nigerians.
Taiwo Olapade,
Broadcast Journalist.
