The wife of the late Chief MKO Abiola, Professor Zainab Duke-Abiola mni, has praised President Bola Tinubu for his economic reforms, which led to Nigeria’s full repayment of its $3.4 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
This milestone has sparked celebrations and renewed hope 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,” Duke-Abiola said.
She described the development as a historic milestone, attributing it to President Tinubu’s visionary leadership, meticulous economic management, and commitment to sustainable growth and development.
By repaying the debt, Duke-Abiola believes President Tinubu has restored hope and ameliorated the doldrum situation, ultimately freeing Nigeria from “Neo-colonial shackles.
“The toga of indebtedness to IMF has been removed just like Singapore and Switzerland who hold some of the strongest passports in the world.
”Nigeria is truly free from Neo-colonial shackles. We are free at last,” she added.
Duke-Abiola noted that under President Tinubu, Nigeria has fully repaid a debt that stood at $1.61 billion when he assumed office in 2023 reduced to $1.37 billion by January 5, 2024; $933.03 million by July 10, 2024; and $472.06 million by January 8, 2025 before being completely settled in May 2025.
She emphasised that President Tinubu’s leadership was yielding results, setting the pace for a new era of fiscal responsibility, infrastructural development, and better social 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 said.
Duke-Abiola also reflected on her personal experience, stating, “during the last elections when I was mobilising nationwide voters for President Tinubu, some people were angry and decided to get a former orderly to frame me that I asked a cook to assault an orderly.
” I thank God for my complete vindication and exoneration.”
She expressed her admiration for President Tinubu, saying, “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.”
Duke-Abiola advised Nigerians not to overheat the polity, adding that President Tinubu came prepared as an “Angel of Restoration.”
