…Says FG Already Met 2025 Revenue Target
…Promises to Immortalise Late President
By Yinka Giwa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday secured a fresh vote of confidence from founding members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), who pledged loyalty to his administration and vowed to back him for victory in the 2027 elections, even as he announced that Nigeria had already met its 2025 revenue target in August, driven largely by non-oil reforms.
The President, who hosted CPC stalwarts and members of The Buhari Organisation at the Presidential Villa, said the milestone was evidence that his government’s economic reforms were stabilising the economy and opening opportunities for growth.
“The economy is now stabilised. Nobody is trading pieces of paper for foreign exchange anymore. The economy is now predictable. You do not need to know the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, to obtain foreign exchange or import goods,” Tinubu said.
He credited the achievement to a deliberate focus on the non-oil economy, noting that Nigeria’s future lay in diversifying revenue sources, expanding exports, and creating jobs. “What we need now is building the ship and the vessels for the export of our goods and creating more jobs for our people,” he added.
The President also announced that the federal government would establish agricultural mechanisation centres across all regions of the country, with the aim of expanding cultivation, boosting harvests, and ensuring food sovereignty. “We are going to have trainees. That programme is our path to food sovereignty,” he said.
Tinubu reassured his visitors that the Renewed Hope Agenda was firmly anchored on building critical infrastructure, improving healthcare delivery, driving food security, and providing security nationwide. He insisted that his reforms were yielding results and would soon translate into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Turning to politics, Tinubu reflected on his longstanding ties with the CPC, one of the legacy parties that merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013. He described the merger process as “a sweet memory,” noting that it had paved the way for the APC’s rise as the dominant political force in Nigeria.
“When I see people like you, I am determined to work harder,” the President told the delegation, while pledging that more CPC stalwarts would be given opportunities to participate in his administration. He further promised that the legacies of former President Muhammadu Buhari would be sustained and immortalised, including through the planned construction of a Buhari House.
“Thank you for your patience until now. But first of all, we must cure the economy and bring hope to the people, which is what we stand for. Thank you for believing in me,” Tinubu said.
The meeting also drew the participation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who praised the President for his statesmanship and inclusivity. Abbas commended Tinubu’s engagement with political stakeholders across the country, particularly in Katsina State, which was home to the late President Buhari.
Leading the CPC delegation, former Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura expressed appreciation to Tinubu for what he described as his unwavering commitment to the Buhari legacy. He thanked the President for his extensive involvement in the funeral rites of the late former President, saying Tinubu’s presence throughout the ceremonies had brought comfort and reassurance.
“You not only buried President Buhari but also honoured him and ensured a befitting state burial with full military honours. Above all, your presence throughout the ceremony was comforting as it was reassuring,” Al-Makura said.
He assured the President that the CPC bloc remained firmly committed to his leadership and to the success of the APC government. “This is to assure you that we believe in your administration, and that will be our focus and commitment to ensure the success of our party and your ultimate victory in the 2027 elections,” Al-Makura declared.
Political observers say the show of solidarity underscores Tinubu’s efforts to keep the APC coalition intact as he navigates both economic reform and political consolidation. By securing the open loyalty of CPC veterans—an influential bloc within the APC—the President appears to be shoring up his base ahead of the 2027 election cycle.