Speech as presented by the president.
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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