The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday x-rayed President Muhammadu Buhari’s one month in office and concluded that he had hit the ground running with what he achieved.
National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke at a parley with newsmen in Lagos argued that contrary to what was being peddled in some quarters, there had been motion and movement in President Buhari’s first month in office and urged Nigerians to prepare for events that would unfold in the days ahead in the anti-corruption fight of the President Buhari administration.
Said he: “Nigerians should grab a front row seat so they can watch clearly as events unfold in the ring of anti-corruption fight in the days ahead. It will no longer be business as usual as the Buhari administration seeks to make sure that every kobo of national funds is spent for the benefit of Nigerians, not to fill the deep pockets of a few fat cats.
“The rot met by the Buhari administration is sickening, and the President is working hard to plug all loopholes for siphoning public funds, in addition to recovering looted public funds.”
Buhari’s achievements
He said thanks to the painstaking efforts of President Buhari, Nigerians now know that out of N8.1 trillion generated by the NNPC in three years, N3.8 trillion was not remitted to the Federation Account.
“Nigerians now know that the cash in the Excess Crude Account has been depleted by $2 billion without explanation. A panel of four governors has been set up to investigate what happened to the money that was not remitted to the Federation Account,” Mohammed said.
He said it was noteworthy that some Western nations had also assured the Buhari administration of all possible assistance in its efforts to recover the billions of Naira spirited away from the public till by public officers in the past.
The APC spokesman said that this was just the beginning of the fight against corruption, urging Nigerians to await more unfolding events.
On insecurity and terrorism
He argued that President Buhari, in the last one month, had also hit the ground running in tackling insecurity and fighting terrorism.
He said: “The President travelled to Chad and Niger, and then hosted a summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission that comprised Cameroon, Chad and Niger, with Benin also invited.
“The result is the decision to deploy the Multi National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), with headquarters in N’Djamena, Chad, on July 30 to pep up the fight against Boko Haram.
“President Buhari has also rallied the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to work with Nigeria in battling the Boko Haram insurgency.
“A joint summit of leaders of both economic blocs is to be held shortly to concretise these efforts that will complement the one by Nigeria and its neighbours.
“President Buhari also travelled to Germany to meet with G7 leaders to present to them a wish list that included getting their support for the battle against Boko Haram. The leaders of the countries affected by the Boko Haram insurgency have compiled their requirements which are being forwarded to the G7 for appropriate action.
“While waiting for that, the US has announced a $5 million assistance for the fight against insurgency and the relocation by the Nigerian military of the command centre to Maiduguri. These are no mean achievements.”
Nigeria back to comity of respected nations
Mohammed also said that the Buhari administration had availed itself creditably within one month of assuming office by bringing Nigeria back to the comity of respected nations.
He said that some leaders who once shunned Nigeria had been inviting President Buhari to visit their countries.
He said: “The latest is the US President Barack Obama, who will play host to our President at the White House on July 20. There is no better indication of how much Nigeria is regaining its lost glory than the recent election of former Agriculture Minister, Mr Akinwumi Adesina as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).”
Seeks a little more patience
Mohammed noted that in spite of the laudable achievements of the Buhari administration in the last one month, Nigerians were right to demand even a faster pace.
He said: “Nigerians are right and justified in their expectations. All we ask for is a little more patience, a little more understanding and continuous support for the Buhari administration.
“We in the APC hereby assure our compatriots, who have expressed their concerns in recent times, that there is no cause for alarm. The Buhari administration is willing, determined and able to effect the change that Nigerians voted for, despite the initial challenges.”
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