Britain gave me succour during years of military tyranny in Nigeria — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday went down memory lane in the United Kingdom as he recalled his role during the dark days of military rule in Nigeria and the support extended to him and other pro-democracy activists by the British government.

President Tinubu, in his short address before his host, King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a State Banquet held at Windsor Castle, gave an account of his role as a leading figure in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a forum that agitated for the validation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the presidential candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.
Before the gathering, which included Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall; Catherine, the Princess of Wales; and other senior officials of the British government, as well as his entourage from Nigeria, Tinubu commended the British government for the support and encouragement given to him and others who put everything on the line in the struggle for the restoration of civil rule in Nigeria when the country was under the vice grip of military dictatorship.
He said: “Your Majesty, I wish to express Nigeria’s deep gratitude to this great nation for the refuge and support it extended during the dark years of military dictatorship. Like many Nigerians involved in the pro-democracy struggle, I found safety here, and I recall that my residence was placed under Metropolitan Police surveillance for protection following threats from agents of the junta. That solidarity remains etched in our collective memory, and it is deeply humbling for me to stand before Your Majesty today as the President of a democratic Nigeria.”

President Tinubu, who noted that the bond between Nigeria and the United Kingdom has been further strengthened under the Commonwealth of Nations, which connects 56 countries, urged the United Kingdom to show more than passing interest in the scourge of terrorism confronting the West African subregion.

He said: “Our West African region faces complex terrorism challenges with roots in the Sahel. Nigeria carries an enormous responsibility to help safeguard regional stability. In confronting these threats, partnership with the United Kingdom remains essential and I look forward to my meeting with Prime Minister Kier Starmer tomorrow.”

President Tinubu expressed satisfaction over the strong presence of Nigerians in the United Kingdom and the value they have added in cementing the enduring bonds between the two nations.

“The Nigerian community in the United Kingdom has become one of the most dynamic diaspora communities worldwide. Nigerians contribute enormously to the vitality of this nation. Within the National Health Service, Nigerian doctors and nurses play an indispensable role in delivering healthcare. Nigerian-trained doctors are among the largest groups of international medical professionals serving the NHS.

“In sport, rugby players such as Maro Itoje, footballers including Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze, and champion boxer Anthony Joshua, illustrate the remarkable human connection that links Nigeria and the United Kingdom.”
In his address, King Charles described the relationship between the two countries as a partnership of equals that has brought enormous benefits.

He specifically cited the economic ties, which he noted are mutually beneficial.

“As the connections between our nations deepen every day, so too do the economic ties. Your visit has provided the opportunity to celebrate the fact that Nigeria is investing in Britain’s future as much as Britain is investing in Nigeria’s – leading Nigerian banks have chosen the City of London as a global base, examples of the best Nigerian companies have listed on London’s Stock Exchange, and U.K. Export Finance is supporting investment in Nigeria’s ports.

“In education, British schools and universities are opening their doors in Nigeria, and British and Nigerian technology companies are forming ever closer partnerships. I was pleased to see that visitors from Nigeria spent £178 million in Britain in 2024, and 251,000 people from Britain travelled to Nigeria and spent just as much, in return. In January of this year, Nigeria became the United Kingdom’s biggest export market in Africa and whilst I hear that in Nigeria the phrase ‘Made in U.K.’ has always symbolised the highest quality, it evidently now has a distinctively Nigerian flavour.”

Ardo  Zubairu 
National Secretary 
Renewed Hope: Tinubu Re- Election Project 2027 . Office Phones: 
08033305195
08098885195
07033454053

Follow this link to join  https://chat.whatsapp.com/GGyI5S8pxi78dcZ3fKciGB

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wike to SSDC: don’t disappoint Tinubu, focus on grassroot development

Image
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday charged the newly constituted South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to focus on grassroots development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. Wike gave the charge when the board members and management team of the Commission, led by the Board Chairman, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche paid him a courtesy visit in his office. The Minister congratulated the Board members and Management Team on their appointments by President Tinubu, emphasizing that their selection was based on trust and magnanimity and urged them not to let the President down. The Minister said, “The only way you can justify your appointment and make the President happy is to work tirelessly to achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President in your region. Your loyalty is to him. Make the President proud of the Commission”. He urged the members not to allow themselves to be used as tools of...
Read more

2027:Nnewi -South APC okays Tinubu for second term, Celebrates the Appointment Of Rt. Hon. Rita Maduagwu

Image
The All Progressives Congress in the Nnewi- South has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu’s second term' ,celebrate the  appointment  one of  their member, Rt. Hon. Rita Maduagwu, into the Governing Council of Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos, by the President At a stakeholders’ meeting of the APC Nnewi- South held  recently, the party leadership endorsed Tinubu’s re-election, promising that they would deliver the zone  to him in 2027. In a statement signed by Mr. Simon Vincent ( Odinga) Publicity Secretary, Nnewi South Chapter, the APC said, “We congratulate Rt. Hon. Rita Maduagwu on this well-deserved recognition of her exceptional services and contributions to the nation. Her appointment is a testament to her capacity, dedication, and selfless service to humanity”. “As a former Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly and a prominent stakeholder in Nnewi South, Rt. Hon. Rita Maduagwu has consistently demonstrated her com...
Read more

Tinubu grants automatic employment to children of late FCT Head of ServiceGrace Adayilo

Image
President Bola Tinubu has approved automatic employment for the four children of the late Head of the Civil Service of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Dr Grace Adayilo who recently passed on. FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, announced this on Saturday during the funeral service held at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, where top government officials, civil servants, family and friends gathered to pay their last respects to the late Adayilo. He described her death as a painful loss, noting that she was a committed, humble and diligent public servant whose contributions to the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA would be deeply missed. “On behalf of the FCT Administration and on behalf of Mr President, I want to send our condolences to her family. Mr President has directed me to give the four children automatic employment because he understands that now there is no breadwinner for them,” Wike said. The minister praised Adayilo’s dedication to duty, recalling how s...
Read more