An address delivered by
President Muhammadu Buhari to commemorate Nigeria’s 55th independence
anniversary
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 important 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, marshaled 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 attempt 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 situation 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, Federal
Inland Revenue Service, 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 just 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 you all.
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