The Guardian (Nigeria)

We don’t need Nigeria’s wealth to survive, says Oluremi Tinubu

We didn’t see the victory coming

- From Nkechi Onyedika- Ugoeze, Abuja

OLUREMI Tinubu, wife of the President- elect, yesterday said she would be one of the oldest First Ladies the country had ever produced. She stated this during the presidenti­al inaugurati­on’s interdenom­inational church service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

Oluremi, who is representi­ng the Lagos Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, also insisted that her husband is 71 years old. She extended her gratitude to God over her husband’s victory during the February 25 presidenti­al poll.

“I can tell you that we never believed that this could happen but we thank God for giving us hope. Asiwaju is 71, I will be 63. I bet I will be one of the oldest first ladies Nigeria has had. We need the grace of God and everyone to do what they are expected to do.’’

She further added that her family does not need the wealth of Nigeria to survive, saying Nigeria’s wealth belongs to all and is for doing the right thing.

She called for prayers from Nigerians, adding that she and her husband would be needing God’s grace to deliver on the expectatio­ns of citizens. While saying she was humbled by her husband’s victory at the polls, Tinubu added that it was time for the country to unite in renewed hope and expect the best.

“God has been merciful to us. I can tell you on my own that we never believed this could happen. But thank God for giving us hope, for giving us the resilience to continue in the race of life. We need the grace of God and we need everyone to do what Nigerians are expecting.

“Today, God has really proved himself as he did on the night of the primaries and put his seal on it. Because, when I saw the votes count to be 1, 271, I said God it means you are here.

“I was humbled to my rock bottom. And to believe that this is the seventh consecutiv­e democratic transition Nigeria will be experienci­ng shows that this is a time of perfection for Nigeria. “Perfection in the sense that, in the word of God, I remember for over two years we have been praying in our churches, according to Isaiah 43: 18- 19, that we should not remember the former things, that God is going to do a new thing. A new thing came and we still kept arguing with God. Who can argue with his maker? No one.

“This is the time for Nigerians to come together, for us to be renewed in our hope again. To hope in Nigeria as our young children have sung here today. They are expecting the best for Nigeria. “Nigeria’s wealth is the commonweal­th of all. It belongs to everyone. God has blessed my family. We don’t need the wealth of Nigeria to survive but to do the right thing. And I promise you on this altar, that with your help, with the help of God, we will set this nation on the right path.”

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