President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerian youths to be patient and sympathetic to the hardships brought about by his economic and monetary policies. He projected that the difficulties would eventually result in a more affluent, egalitarian, and inclusive economy.
Tinubu delivered the assurance on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting with All Progressives Congress national youth leaders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The president assured the youths that his administration would include them in governance and decision-making processes and that no decision would be too difficult for his administration to make in the interest of the nation’s growth and unity.
“I make my pledge to the country that no decision will be difficult for this administration to take for the prosperity and unity of this country. Economic reforms could be slow. Be patient a little more,” Tinubu stated.
“I can assure you that I understand the pain you are going through. It is not easy to get out of the monster of over 40 years called the fuel subsidy” he added.
Tinubu emphasized that his administration would do everything possible to broaden the net to include more women and youths. This will be accomplished, among other things, by collaborating with lending institutions to provide micro loans at very low interest rates for citizens’ economic activity.
Speaking at the meeting, the APC national youth leader Abdullahi Israel, stated that the visit was made to congratulate the president on the party’s victory in the 2023 elections.
While guaranteeing the president of their continuing support, Israel encouraged him to include them in nominations to government bodies and agencies that had been dissolved.








![Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg)
