Buhari Marks Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary With A Speech.

 

October 1st is a day for joy and celebrations for us Nigerians, whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in because it is the day, 55 years ago; we liberated ourselves from the shackles of colonialism and began our long march to nationhood and to greatness.
“No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honouring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has given us. Our Creator has bequeathed to us Numbers – Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition arable land; water; forests; oil and gas; coastline; and solid minerals
“We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose. This would have enabled us to achieve not only more orderly political evolution and integration but also continuity and economic progress.
“Countries far less endowed have made greater economic progress by greater coherence and unity of purpose.
“Nonetheless, that we have remained together is an achievement we should all appreciate and try to consolidate. We have witnessed this year a change in our democratic development.
“The fact that an opposition party replaced an entrenched government in a free and fair election is indicative of the deeper roots of our democratic system. Whatever one’s views are, Nigerians must thank former President Jonathan for not digging-in in the face of defeat and thereby saving the country untold consequences.
“As I said in my inaugural speech, I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view to join me in working for the nation.
“My countrymen and women, every new government inherits problems. Ours was no different. But what Nigerians want are solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of problems inherited.
“Accordingly, after consultations with the Vice President, senior party leaders and other senior stakeholders, I quickly got down to work on the immediate, medium-term and long-term problems which we must solve if we are to maintain the confidence which Nigerians so generously bestowed on us in the March elections and since then.
“As you know, I toured the neighbouring countries, marshalled a coalition of armed forces of the five nations to confront and defeat Boko Haram. I met also the G-7 leaders and other friendly presidents in an effort to build an international coalition against Boko Haram.
“Our gallant armed forces under new leadership have taken the battle to the insurgents, and severely weakened their logistical and infrastructural capabilities. Boko Haram are being scattered and are on the run.
“That they are resorting to shameless attacks on soft targets such as I.D.P. camps is indicative of their cowardice and desperation. I have instructed security and local authorities to tighten vigilance in vulnerable places.
On power, government officials have held a series of long sessions over several weeks about the best way to improve the nation’s power supply in the safest and most cost-effective way.
“In the meantime, improvement in the power supply is moderately encouraging. By the same token, supply of petrol and kerosene to the public has improved throughout the country. All the early signs are that within months the whole country would begin to feel a change for the better.
“Preliminary steps have been taken to sanitize NNPC and improve its operations so that the inefficiency and corruption could be reduced to a minimum.
“Those of our refineries which can be serviced and brought back into partial production would be enabled to resume operations so that the whole sordid business of exporting crude and importing finished products in dubious transactions could be stopped.
“In addition to NNPC, I have ordered a complete audit of our other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation. Prudent house-keeping is needed now more than ever in view of the sharp decline in world market oil prices. It is a challenge we have to face squarely. But what counts is not so much what accrues but how we manage our resources.
“We have seen in the last few years how huge resources were mismanaged, squandered and wasted. The new APC government is embarking on a clean up, introducing prudence and probity in public financing.
“At an early stage, the federal government addressed the issue of salary arrears in many states, a situation capable of degenerating into social unrest. The APC government stepped in to provide short-term support to the debtor states and enabled them to pay off the backlog and restore the livelihood of millions of Nigerians.
“Fellow Nigerians, there have been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in announcement of ministers. There is no cause to be anxious. Our government set out to do things methodically and properly. We received the handing over notes from the outgoing government only four days before taking over. Consequently, the Joda Transition Committee submitted its Report on the reorganization of Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes. It would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not finalized the number of ministries to optimally carry the burden of governance.
“Anyway, the wait is over. The first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the senate. Subsequent lists will be forwarded in due course. Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about.
“I would like to end my address this morning on our agenda for CHANGE. Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring change about. We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behaviour in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.
“Happy Independence Celebrations. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Igbokwe is the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary. Lagos.

Make no mistake about it. There is a finger of God in the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari at this critical moment in the nation’s history. After previous attempts in 2003, 2007, 2011, he eventually clinched the presidential slot on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Whoever is not deep in the knowledge of how God works, may not know the full meaning of President Buhari’s emergence at a time like this and what he is doing now. There was nothing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its followers, with deep pockets did not do to stop him, but their efforts were not enough to stop an idea whose time has come.

Those who did not follow the campaigns fully may not have known what the wreckers, the ruiners and destroyers of Nigeria did to stop him but the grace of God and the love of God for Nigeria stopped them. Huge amount of money in various currencies were deployed, mercenaries were hired to deploy the worst form of hate campaign ever known in the history of Nigeria, the instrumentality of the full weight of the Federal Government was fully deployed, the full weight of the security forces were fully and maximally deployed to stop President Buhari but God had other plans for Nigeria . Despite these onslaughts and desperation to change the will of God for Nigeria, the will of God for Nigeria prevailed.Since Buhari came to power, I have seen a lot of deep changes which the ordinary eye may not see. The fear of President Buhari is now the beginning of wisdom. Yes, they have stolen enough for the real owners to notice, but they have not stolen the brains and ideas of the people. With brains and ideas, Nigerians can now begin the process of rebuilding the country. Ideas, people say, are better than money and top positions.It is historic and prophetic that new ministers will be coming into the saddle when Nigeria clock’s 55 on October 1 2015. My late father once told me that you will never get up unless you have fallen down. I have an idea of the kind of people that will make the ministers list in a Buhari-led government and I know that 70 per cent of them know that we have to build Nigeria now or never. We have the political will to recover every stolen cash and use it effectively to rebuild our dilapidated infrastructure, create job opportunities, rebuild our institutions, feed our teeming population and provide maximum security for all. This is not the time to eat but time to work and work for the good of the commonwealth.The incoming ministers must know that it is no longer business as usual. President Buhari has a mission and time is not on his side. It therefore behoves on all of them to key into the man’s vision of zero tolerance on corruption and indiscipline. They have no choice. Nigeria has gone full cycle in stupidity and selfishness and this is the time to build or we all perish.Nigeria at 55 with Muhammadu Buhari as President provides a new window for all of us to sit up and be smart in re-ordering the way we do things. The massive flow of refugees from Libya, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Africa into Europe should be food for thought for the leaders. Boko Haram insurgents, MASSOB and Niger Delta militants remain a big challenge to all. We must rise above ethnic sentiments in order to confront these threats and build the Nigeria of our dream. Diversity remains our greatest assets and should we bungle it as a result of greed, selfishness, ethnic preoccupation and political irresponsibility, woe betide us.President Buhari’s team should be our first eleven for the first time in 55 years and we demand nothing less. I pity any minister who will mess up when the need is greatest. I pity any minister who will go there to think it is still business as usual. I pity any minister who will go into public office to betray the President and the country. This is our chance to prove to the world that we did not go to school to learn how to accumulate what we do not need. This is not the time to stand and stare. This is not the time for bedtime stories and frivolities. This is the time for us to free ourselves from primitive accumulation of wealth to service delivery. This is the time to grow up. This is my wish for Nigeria at 55.