Former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on Sunday commended President Bola Tinubu’s performance in office.
Gowon, who led Nigeria between 1966 and 1975, said the President has performed commendably in major areas of governance.
He made the remarks after paying a courtesy visit to Tinubu and later addressing journalists at the State House.
“I came to see him and to thank him for all the good works that he’s doing for the country,” Gowon said.
He further stated: “We have to look at all the good work that the President is doing and the progress that Nigeria is making economically and otherwise.”
According to Gowon, Nigeria is making progress under Tinubu’s leadership, noting that he is satisfied with the current direction of governance.
When journalists asked him to identify areas where the President should improve as the administration moves forward, the former Head of State declined to highlight any specific sector.
He explained that, in his view, President Tinubu appears to be tackling national challenges across all fronts.
“Isn’t he doing the best he can all round?” he asked rhetorically.
“So there is no particular place; every other area — political, economic, social, etc.”
Gowon also recognised the complexity of Nigeria’s security situation but maintained that the President is making efforts to address the challenge for the benefit of the country.
“And, of course, the major problem that we have today, the security area, he’s doing everything to deal with those for the good of all Nigeria,” he said.
He added that leadership requires careful attention to multiple priorities at the same time, stressing that the President must continue to protect Nigeria’s interests across all sectors.
“He’s got to look after the interests of Nigeria in all areas, and I’m happy about that,” Gowon added.
The elder statesman, widely regarded as a symbol of national reconciliation and peace, was also asked what message he had for Nigerians in view of the country’s current challenges.
He responded that the responsibility of addressing such issues lies primarily with the government, expressing confidence that the administration is doing its best to manage the situation.
“If I say that the problem that is happening today, it is only the government today, that’s Mr. President that can really deal with it, and he is dealing with it the best he can without creating any problem for Nigerians and for the country,” he said.
He expressed hope that the government’s efforts would ultimately lead to the peace and stability Nigerians desire.
“The government is handling it the best it can to ensure that Nigeria, in the end, achieves the peace that it deserves, that it requires and it deserves,” Gowon said.
The visit by the former Head of State comes at a time when President Tinubu has been holding consultations with prominent national figures on governance, security and national development.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the same day responded strongly to claims by the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) that Nigeria’s poverty rate had risen to 63 per cent.
The APC accused the opposition party of deliberately misleading Nigerians with the claim.
In a statement released in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described the criticism as evidence of ignorance regarding President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda.
The ADC had based its claim on a report presented during an Agora Policy dialogue which suggested that Nigeria’s poverty rate rose from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
However, the APC argued that the same report also recognised the necessity of Tinubu’s reforms to address long-standing structural weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.
Morka defended the administration’s decision in May 2023 to remove the fuel subsidy and unify the foreign exchange rates.
He described the previous systems as a serious economic threat and a large fiscal burden that encouraged corruption and cross-border smuggling while consuming as much as 90 per cent of national revenue.
While acknowledging that Nigerians have faced temporary hardship, Morka said economic reforms often come with costs, adding that the policy changes have helped free the country from prolonged economic stagnation.
The APC also criticised the ADC for lacking a clear manifesto or alternative policy direction, accusing its leaders of engaging in political rhetoric without offering practical solutions.
To demonstrate the impact of the administration’s fiscal reforms, the ruling party presented several economic indicators showing signs of recovery.
According to the APC, Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to grow by 5.5 per cent in the current fiscal year. The party also noted that the country’s foreign reserves have reached their highest level in nearly two decades, exceeding $50 billion.
Morka added that headline inflation is gradually declining toward single digits, while food inflation is currently at its lowest level in 13 years. He also pointed out that non-oil exports surpassed $6 billion in 2025 and that higher revenue allocations are now being distributed to states and local governments to support grassroots development.
To help mitigate the impact of economic adjustments, the APC highlighted ongoing social protection initiatives such as cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives aimed at strengthening household resilience.
The party assured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration remains committed to rebuilding the economy for the benefit of both current and future generations.
