KATSINA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has spoken candidly about the emotional toll and leadership strain he experienced during the early months of his administration, revealing that Nigeria’s economic crises once pushed him to the brink of media withdrawal.
Speaking during a weekend visit to Katsina State, Tinubu admitted he was deeply affected by intense criticism and the weight of governance.
“When we started, it was challenging, and I almost ran away from watching or reading the newspapers,” he said.
“I got discouraged but stayed put on my decisions, believing that the ability of a leader to take decisions at the right time is the hallmark of leadership.”
Despite the early turbulence, Tinubu expressed optimism about the trajectory of Nigeria’s economy, insisting that reforms are beginning to bear fruit.
“Nigeria is a success, the economy is turning around, it has bent the corner,” the president declared.
His comments came as the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, delivered a far more sobering assessment of Nigeria’s economic health at the 20th anniversary dinner of investment firm Chapel Hill Denham in Lagos.
Adesina lamented the country’s declining GDP per capita and noted that Nigeria, once economically comparable to South Korea, has since fallen far behind.
“More Nigerians are poorer today than they were at Independence in 1960,” he said.
He attributed the downturn to a long-standing pattern of inconsistent economic policies and weak implementation.
“We must be bold, focused, and urgent in repositioning Nigeria as the economic powerhouse it is meant to be,” Adesina urged.
