Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu was aware that Nigeria has challenges and he would never apportion blame but take responsibility.

He assured Nigerians that Tinubu has Nigeria on his mind.

This was as he said the government would neither deny the challenges in the country nor apportion blame, but rather accept responsibility and find solutions.

The Vice President made the statement during his remark at a book launch, titled “Beating all Odds: Diaries and Essays on how Bola Tinubu became President”, written by Sam Omatseye, Chairperson of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspaper, on Tuesday.

Shettima, who was Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, described Tinubu as “a man of courage and conviction”, noting that the President “took the bull by the horns”, by withdrawing the fuel subsidy and collapsing the multiple exchange rates regime.

The Vice President said, “Be rest assured that the President has Nigeria in his mind. Yes, we are having challenges, we are not denying that, and we are not here to apportion blame.

“Leadership is about accepting responsibilities and finding solutions to national challenges. The President is a man of courage and conviction. In the first week in office, he made far-reaching decisions.

“Oil subsidy had been an albatross around the neck of the Nigerian economy and the Nigerian nation. He took the bull by the horns and withdrew the fuel subsidy from day one. He was able to collapse the multiple exchange rate regime, which gave room for a lot of hanky-panky. And be rest assured that in the fullness of time, history will be kind to him.”

In his goodwill message, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Special Adviser, Legal and Constitutional Matters, Dr Monday Ubani, while hailing the qualities of the President outlined in the book, urged Nigerians to support the President.

“As the President faces governance, which is the stage which we are in currently, may I crave the indulgence of all Nigerians and all arms of government, to give him all the support he desires to succeed. With the agenda of Renewed Hope, our commitment to our national duty, and perseverance, I am convinced that we shall eventually reach the promised land”, he said.

Also at the event were former Governor of Ogun State, and Chairman on the Occasion, Olusegun Osoba; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former National Chairman of the APC and Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole; former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, among others