By Festus Fifen

As part of activities to mark his second year in office, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday reopened the refurbished Abuja International Conference Center which has been renamed after him by the FCT Minister Nyesome Wike.

Speaking at the official reopening event in Abuja President Tinubu charged the former Rivers State Governor to continue in his good work and not pay attention to busybodies who never see anything good in his administration.

In his words, ” I am greatly honoured and happy to be here to reopen this International Conference Centre as part of our determined efforts to change the way we do things, to reflect us as people of quality, people of character, people of determination, people of great spirit. That is who we are and I am glad that you, Nyesom Wike, are reflecting that.

” Don’t pay attention to the busybodies and bystanders. Whatever they say, continue to do your good work. You are a transformational leader, you have the foresight, the vision and the determination to succeed. Thank you very much.”

Speaking further on the state of the conference centre before the renovation, the president said it was not befitting of a nation like Nigeria.

” When I attended the conference of ECOWAS Parliament here, it was a very dirty, disorganised, uninhabitable environment. Aside from the sidetalk I had with the Senate President, I turned to Wike and said this conference centre is not reflecting who we are. Have we sunk this low? He said no but bear with us, we will do whatever we can do to transform the place. You won’t come back to find it in a dilapidated state and today I am very happy.

” Whatever might be wrong today is a sign of the good thing that we are correcting, we are reflecting, renewing our hope and believing in ourselves in what we can do, what we can be – a great nation on earth.

” Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are determined to renew infrastructure across the key sectors of this country – transportation, health care, education, energy and urban development.

” Because you understand that modern infrastructure is the backbone of a thriving economy in an inclusive and progressive society. The International Conference Centre is part of our country’s larger vision to become a hub for regional diplomacy, continental trade discussions, global partnership and many more thoughtful, well outlined goals that reflect our ‘Nigeria First’.

Speaking Earlier, FCT Minister Nyesome Wike who explained why the refurbished edifice was named after the President said ” It is important to understand and know why it is named Bola Ahmed Tinubu International conference center.

” This Conference Centre was built in 1991 under the military government. Since that time, nothing has happened to this international conference center. Last year sometime during December, you came here to inaugurate the ECOWAS Parliament and it was an embarrassment for a country to have this as an International Conference Centre then, and you said how can we have this as an International Conference Centre. That showed leadership and you said, the next time you come here you want to see a different international Conference Centre.

” Within 8 months Mr. President, this is what we have and I appeal that without your leadership, it wouldn’t have been possible. You are not the only president who has been here. So many presidents have come and nobody has said this is not what Nigeria needs. But because of your leadership, you gave a marching order, stating that this is not the quality to show that Nigeria is a giant of Africa.

” Today this Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre can march any international Conference Center.”