In a 60-minute Christmas Day Special Feature on Channels Television’s NewsNight, the Presidency emphasized the need for a collaborative effort in building Nigeria, stating that neither President Bola Tinubu nor any political party, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), can achieve this monumental task alone.
President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, highlighted the significance of input from every citizen, irrespective of their political affiliations, to create a Nigeria that works for its diverse population of over 200 million people.
Ngelale, in a two-minute teaser released ahead of the broadcast, asserted, “This is the nation we have to build, and it’s not APC that will build it. It is not the PDP or Labour Party that will build it. It is Nigerians that will build it.”
The Presidential Spokesman emphasized the non-partisan nature of governance under President Tinubu’s leadership, urging all Nigerians to unite for the collective good. He stated, “President Bola Tinubu needs every Nigerian to key into what he’s doing. This is not a partisan issue, and we will not treat governance as a partisan issue so long as he is in authority.”
The upcoming interview on NewsNight will delve into “Contentious Issues of 2023 under review with a prospectus ahead of 2024.”
Ngelale cautioned against narratives that may undermine the country’s progress, especially in the international arena. He urged Nigerians to be mindful of how they portray the nation on global platforms, stating, “We are all ambassadors of our country the moment we step outside.”
He added, “We don’t want to undermine the work Mr. President is doing going around the world actively courting investment and securing investment. We don’t want to undermine that by engaging in this self-fulfilling prophecy where we say, ‘things are so bad in Nigeria, Nigeria cannot be better.'”
Reflecting on past elections and litigations, Ngelale called on citizens to prioritize demanding good governance. “We must get to a point where we understand when electioneering and the process of the campaign has ended and governance begins,” he said.
The 60-minute Christmas Day Special Feature is set to air at 9:00 pm (local time) on Channels Television’s NewsNight.