Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has praised the country’s former leaders for their contributions to maintaining stability, especially during the challenging period after the removal of fuel subsidies.
While speaking to journalists during a visit to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, at his Uphill residence in Minna, she highlighted that Abdulsalami has consistently provided valuable encouragement to President Bola Tinubu.
She stressed that former leaders are the fathers of the nation and that current leaders should honor and respect them, while clarifying that her visit was not politically motivated.
“I haven’t seen Daddy (Abdulsalami) and mummy for a long time. We did not make it here when we were campaigning and we feel it is rude for us to be talking to them on the phone. From where I am coming from it is not respectful. It is only right for a Nigerian who has a proper upbringing to come and greet them.
“General Abdulsalami is doing a lot for us trying to juggle and stabilise the government to an extent because with subsidy removal, people were getting a lot agitated but we thank them for the patience because if they do not believe that we can do it, it is not what we should be talking about now.
“Daddy (Abdulsalami) has always encouraged Mr President, so it is only right for us to come and visit him. When I went to Abeokuta, I went to see Baba even though he wasn’t there, but he said he would come and see me in Lagos. It is right for me to come here and greet them because they are the fathers of our nation, the patriarchs of this great nation, it is good for us to pay our respect. It is nothing political, it is just respect for me and Hajiya Shetimma. That is why we do not have any entourage like the Governors’ wives accompanying us. It is a private visit”, she stated.
Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, appreciated the visit by the president’s Wife, applauding her for her interventions, which have placed Nigeria in a positive light to the world.
He described her as the number one Ambassador of Nigeria, commending her for carrying the wives of the Governors and the wives of former leaders of the nation along in her programmes and interventions.
“It is a pressure for the First Lady to come and visit us. She has been planning to come and pay her respects to us. I want to thank the First Lady for what she is doing and will continue to do especially for the young children, the motherless and the orphans. She has done very well during her first and second years in office, she has done the Nigerian fabric, and she has done a lot of things to bring out Nigeria and place a positive image of Nigeria to Nigerians and the world. She is Nigeria’s number one Ambassador.
“I want to thank her for what she has been doing. She has been carrying the Governors’ wives along, and in all the things you are doing, you are in consultation with the former First Ladies. I want to thank you for this visit. Through you, I want to say thank you to Mr President for allowing you to come and visit us”, he said.
Prior to visiting General Abdulsalami’s residence, the First Lady had met with former Military President General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida at his Uphill residence.
Tinubu arrived at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna around 10:30 am aboard a private aircraft with the registration number N685AR. She was welcomed at the airport by Niger State Governor Dr. Umaru Mohammed Bago, his wife Hajiya Fatima Bago, and other government officials.
From the airport, she went directly to the Uphill residence of former Military President General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, where she held a closed-door meeting with him for about 35 minutes. She then proceeded to the nearby residence of former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar.