By Danladi Ahmed
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated political sensitivity over his choice to focus on domestic issues requiring urgent attention than to attend the heads of governments convergence in New York, USA for the 79th UN General Assembly meeting scheduled to start on Tuesday, September 24.
This gesture, according to The Democratic Front, clearly shows the President’s understanding and awareness of the People’s feelings, problems, and needs as well as his resolve to grapple with them.
The TDF which hailed the President in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo said the decision priotises national political expediency in spite of the importance of the United Nations meeting.
The statement read in part: “Once again, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has added another feather to his enviable cap of sterling political leadership by shelving his scheduled trip to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
“Our attention was drawn to this remarkable show of responsive leadership by the reasons which include the need to attend to domestic challenges particularly, the devastating flood disaster in Borno State.
“We recall that Mr. President was away in China and the United Kingdom, when two major issues that shook the nation’s socioeconomic and environmental ecosystem occurred through fuel pricing and the Borno State humanitarian disaster.
“As challenging as the fuel situation and flood disaster were to the entire nation, the TDF was confident that the President’s heart was with the people of Nigeria in their moment of trying challenges despite his international engagements.
“And to our admiration, President Tinubu suspended his official engagements on receiving the news of the flood to get first hand information from his Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Governor Umara Zulum
“The President’s response to the flood disaster was remarkably swift and unprecedented, in view of the fact that he arrived from a foreign country that is 9,971 km away from Nigeria. This undoubtedly underscores his unchallengeable resolve and commitment to ameliorating the plight of the people of Nigeria under whatever circumstance.
“We noted with satisfaction how the President immediately dispatched Vice President Shettima with over 50 trucks of rice and other food items, accompanied by tons of drugs and other relief materials, to cushion the effects of the flood disaster in the short term.
“Similarly, the President directed the military and emergency management agencies to work as a team in rescuing flood victims as well as ensuring that relief materials get to them.
“We are truly buoyed by the speed with which the President called off his diplomatic shuttles and returned back to the country, only to make the visit to the site of the flood disaster his first official duty on arrival.
“His show of great concern for the plight of the victims of the flood has noticeably attracted lots of sympathy and attention from within and outside Nigeria.
“As a group committed to the promotion of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, we want to appreciate President Tinubu for his display of a responsive people oriented democratic leadership. This is worthy of emulation by all.
“We are also delighted to observe that the President’s prompt response and actions on the environmental flood disaster has generated lots of sympathy and aids in support of the victims from both within and outside the country, as evident in the cash donation of over N17 billion naira from the organized private sector and the $6 million dollars from the United Nations (UN).
“In addition to the outpouring, humanitarian support has been poring in from individuals and organizations that are motivated by the President’s exemplary show of love and concern for the traumatized victims of the flood.
“History will remember President Tinubu as the first Nigerian leader to delegate his Vice President to lead the Nigerian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly to allow him to deal with pressing local issues.”
The group added that it looks forward to a number of heartwarming decisions from the presidency in the coming days.
