Prof. Zainab Duke-Abiola, wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his economic reforms, which led to the full repayment of Nigeria’s $3.4 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a personally signed statement on Friday, Duke-Abiola said the repayment had inspired nationwide celebration and renewed optimism in Nigeria’s economic future.
“The repayment is not a fluke; it is the outcome of careful strategic planning and unwavering commitment to improving Nigeria’s socio-economic rating globally,” she stated.
She described the repayment as a historic milestone, crediting it to President Tinubu’s visionary leadership, prudent economic management, and dedication to sustainable development.
Duke-Abiola expressed belief that the repayment had restored national pride and lifted Nigeria out of what she termed “Neo-colonial shackles.”
“The toga of indebtedness to IMF has been removed just like Singapore and Switzerland, which hold some of the strongest passports in the world. Nigeria is truly free from Neo-colonial shackles. We are free at last,” she said.
She detailed that the debt stood at $1.61 billion when President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, had been reduced to $1.37 billion by January 2024, further dropped to $933.03 million by July 2024, and then to $472.06 million by January 2025, before being fully cleared in May 2025.
According to her, this progress is a testament to a new era of fiscal discipline, infrastructure development, and enhanced public service delivery.
“President Tinubu’s leadership is yielding results. Nigeria is not just settling debts but setting the pace for a new era of fiscal responsibility, infrastructural development and better social service delivery,” she added.
Reflecting on her role during the 2023 general elections, Duke-Abiola recalled alleged attempts to frame her during her mobilisation efforts in support of Tinubu, which she claimed ended in her vindication.
She also praised the President’s diplomatic potential.
“The world should watch out because Tinubu is a President poised to surpass Donald Trump of the U.S. in international negotiations and surpass Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso. I know all this because I have known his patriotic mindset for over 30 years,” she said.
Duke-Abiola urged Nigerians to avoid political tension, describing Tinubu as an “Angel of Restoration.”
(NAN)