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 honoring 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
• 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 sea 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 neighboring countries, marshal a
coalition of armed forces of the five nations to confront and defeat Boko
Haram. I met also the G7 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 for a complete audit of
our other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for
better service delivery to the nation. Prudent housekeeping 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 that is important.
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 owing 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 behavior 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. God Bless.
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