President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria must develop and stand beyond religious bigotry.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday when he received a delegation from the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the State House, led by Lucius Ugorji, the conference president, Tinubu acknowledged the hardships faced by Nigerians due to ongoing economic reforms, stating that the measures implemented were necessary to build a resilient nation and secure a better future for generations to come.
“Yes, removing the fuel subsidy was hard, tough for me, but it’s a hard choice that Nigeria must face. We are not going to bankrupt our country.
“We were spending the investment of the future of our children yet unborn; we were spending their rights. Poverty has no religious basis. It affects all, and we must fight it together.”
Tinubu added that poverty goes beyond religious and ethnic divides, urging citizens and leaders to unite in addressing the issue.
He stated that tax reforms are an opportunity for Nigerians to invest in the nation’s development.
On insecurity, the president assured the bishops that security agencies are making significant progress in tackling the nation’s challenges.
“This insecurity affects everyone—Christians and Muslims alike. I have no religious bias; I won’t be a bigot. My wife is a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church,” Tinubu said.
“But we have to think of our country; this country must develop and must stand beyond religious bigotry.
“We’ve been together for some time. We have an open-door policy. I will not shut my door.”
