President Muhammadu Buhari is unmoved by suggestions that his rating by Nigerians has dropped.
He insists that the generality of Nigerians still believe in him as they did in the run up to the 2015 election that brought him to power.
Besides, he says it is erroneous to imply that he has abandoned governance for anti-corruption war.
Buhari, in an extensive interview with the magazine, African Leadership, declares that there is nowhere in the world where transition from an old order to a new one has ever been easy.
A national survey by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), entitled The Buharimeter Report, had said: “We can also infer that there are still gaps between campaign promises, public expectations, government policies and actions. These need to be aligned properly going forward.
“Attempts sometimes by the President’s party to disown certain promises made during the elections will not serve the government well.
“What is required is to focus on achieving the promises by prioritizing them and carrying Nigerians along if there are challenges along the way.”
But Buhari insists in the African Leadership interview that he has neither lost the goodwill nor alienated the masses.
His words: “Yes, I was elected by an overwhelming majority of Nigerians, and I am ever grateful for the opportunity I have been given to serve.
“However, I don’t consider the result of the so-called survey a slip in my public rating and acceptance. I appreciate the high expectations of Nigerians and as an administration we are working assiduously to deliver.
“We came in with a mantra of Change and the zeal to give a new lease of life to governance. Our zeal has remained the same and we are always prepared to make the difference.
“You will recall that when I was being sworn in, I emphasized that as a government, three key areas will be the priorities. The first is the need to rebuild the economy. I also pledged to fight insecurity while the third and equally important area is the fight against corruption.”
He pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with his administration, saying: “Nigeria will soon be back on track.”
He added: “Before now, we have been having sleepless nights in Nigeria with Boko Haram having field days in tormenting people, most especially in the North-Eastern part of the country. So far, we have shown resilience in stopping these people and yet many criticize the approach we are using.
“What I think our people should know is that a process of change is difficult as it requires endurance and patience. China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and other great Asian countries had at different times passed through processes of change. They are far better off today.
“And some of these countries were at par with Nigeria in terms of development some five decades ago. We are attempting to do the same here to say let us stop building individuals, let us stop making those who serve in government get stupendously wealthy at the expense of ordinary Nigerians they had sworn to serve.
“Rather, we should concentrate on building strong institutions. Let us introduce economic prosperity by bringing in more investors to catalyze a sense of competition to grow our economy. Let there be law and order in our ways.”
He asked Nigerians to “continue to exercise patience and let them know that we will not rest on our oars until we bring succour back to them and to the country. From our efforts so far.”
On the erratic electricity system in the country, the President said the nation will overcome the problem under his administration
His words: “Let me assure you that we will surmount the challenge of power supply. We have mapped out a mix of electric power generation sources inclusive of thermal, solar, hydro, nuclear, coal and windmill.
“The idea is to adapt and embed these sources to areas that they are easily adaptable to. But more than that, we will reinvigorate and conclude the power sector privatization process and thereby ensure the whole value chain in the sector is populated by the private sector.”
On why he has abandoned governance for only anti-corruption war, Buhari said: “it is not true that the fight against corruption is distracting my attention from the task of governance. You can sit back and review what we have done in the past one year and come up with your judgment. That will certainly assist you and other concerned Nigerians to reach the right conclusions.”
The President, who explained why Nigeria joined the Saudi-led Coalition Against ISIS, said it had no religious motive.
“We were looking for solutions to our myriad of problems in the area of security posed by Boko Haram which has pledged alliance to ISIS and the Saudi-led coalition against ISIS was set up to confront and eradicate ISIS,” he said.
“Boko Haram had pledged alliance to this terror group and I don’t see the reason why we should isolate Nigeria in any effort to eradicate global terrorism.
“It is all about eliminating the menace called Boko Haram. Having said that, Nigeria remains a multi-religious nation where there is freedom of worship as prescribed by our constitution.”
He said he remains committed to Nigeria as a multi-religious society where freedom of worship will be guaranteed. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Useless cow!!! Start with your wife if you want to fight corruption
ReplyDeleteA country that have someone like u will be very difficult to grow since u can't support good thing.
DeleteYour father is a useless Igbo man. Omo yanmiri. All of una be slaves in Nigeria till thy kingdom come.
DeleteYou are an Ant .. Go n jump into a mi ing train. Or beta still go n swallow niddles if you don't believe
DeleteCarry go Baba, rankadede.
ReplyDeleteMr man come 2019, you will be shown the way out because you lack good leadership traits. You are an autocrat and Nigerians have grown past this your leadership style
ReplyDeleteYou must be a joker; we no believe in a again. ......
ReplyDeleteSir, the people u govern, some of them are thinking backward which will be a bit difficult to show them way because they're not ready to listen.
ReplyDeleteThey will come here and attack reasonable person. Most annoying thing, they get more "Likes" than expected.
GOD bless Nigeria.
When others deceive you, must you deceive yourself?
ReplyDeleteBelieve in you or they are afraid to challenge you?
ReplyDeleteWe r behind u baba carry go.any body that is not happy wit u let him go and hug transformer
ReplyDeleteI laugh in Spanish, Mr President, you must b dreaming. Visionless leader sorry ruler.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha ha ha dis man is and his crew are smoking weed and getting false inspiration.
ReplyDeleteStory to the birds of the air...while ur Muslim extremist are killing Christians everyday! God will judge u.
ReplyDeleteYes some gullible abokis and fulani herdsmen still believe in ur clueless and incompetent leadership. Tyrant!!
ReplyDeleteSo you don't even have shame.......we don't like you cause you are bad luck I regret voting you clueless old fool
ReplyDeleteI didn't vote for you Mr president, but deep down I wanted u 2 succeed, bt let's face the facts, u don't give us reasons to believe in ur Govt.
ReplyDeleteThe problem about us in Africa is we do not learn from history. Most painfully is the fact that this history is barely five (5) years down the line. When a very popular Jonathan who had no shoes had a very easy and overwhelming victory in the 2011 election which Mr. President you also contested and lost. The story changed in 2015 for Mr. Jonathan coz he was fed the same mirage and placed in a ferry tale world you seem to be in. He failed to take into account the opinions of the larger populace but rather swallowed everything his men who saw tomorrow told him.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately your own seers are leading you down the same path. Sir you need to wake up to the fact that there are so many disgruntled voices all over the nation which must be addressed ASAP for tomorrow maybe tooooo late.
I don't need to preach because you can try to paint the situation with the most glamorous word's, but deep down your heart, you know the truth. You can fool some people some times, but you can't fool all the people all the time.
I belief in you Baba! but bring back Bat Nnaji for power and Okonjo Iweala to run the Economy, they would be more useful now that the system would allow them act freely as technocrats!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSurely some still believe in you. The question is whether the majority believe. Only North can't be the majority
ReplyDeleteI absolutely believe in you and will still vote for you several times. Only a corrupt soul wil not believe in mr president. Sai Buhari.
ReplyDeleteFoolish attention seeker.
DeleteIt looks like something is wrong living in Aso rock. OBJ was disconnected from the people, GEJ was also disconnected from the people and Buhari is even worst. Our president can't see nor understand what Nigerians are going through and he does not listen to criticism. If he has three agenda economic, security and anti corruption. Look at this: economy is going down, security is fought one sided (Falani helds men killing freely) and anti corruption fight is not institutionalize but picking some actors.
ReplyDeleteIf He contest now, he will never have the vote of 2015. Never.
Yes my presido! Many Nigerians like Lie Mohammed, Fayemi, Amaechi, shehu, Ngige adesina... People selfishly gaming from you andyour administration and lying to you that all is well. The truth is that tens of millions of ordinary Nigerians are suffering from hunger extreme hardship and hopelessness. Baba! Dont mind them ooo! So you have not seen the pictures of kworshiokor Nigerian children everywhere now in the media? So they have not told you the latest prices of basic food item? It is sad.
ReplyDeleteBaba I will not vote for apc and you again come 2019.
ReplyDeleteYes O!!! Baba! D General Sai Changi Dole. It is also obvious PDP led gang up on your administration to such heighten to fraud in changing d standing order of upper chamber. This also call for some administrative radicalism, autocracy & military to crushed totally to a standstill all acts of terrorism whether bokoharam or militancy. Impunity or Immunity should be erased and whoever no matter d position involved in corruption, fraud should be made to face d full weight & wrath of d law. Dia shld stiff regulation of prices & all forms of monopoly. In the power sector, those currently handling it should go in dia totality & giv to a different set who are ready to do it well. Same shld apply to oil sector, NNPC, CBN & others.
ReplyDeleteWhat ridiculously poor English. I couldn't even finish. Please, it is not by force to post comments.
DeleteYes O!!! Baba! D General Sai Changi Dole. It is also obvious PDP led gang up on your administration to such heighten to fraud in changing d standing order of upper chamber. This also call for some administrative radicalism, autocracy & military to crushed totally to a standstill all acts of terrorism whether bokoharam or militancy. Impunity or Immunity should be erased and whoever no matter d position involved in corruption, fraud should be made to face d full weight & wrath of d law. Dia shld stiff regulation of prices & all forms of monopoly. In the power sector, those currently handling it should go in dia totality & giv to a different set who are ready to do it well. Same shld apply to oil sector, NNPC, CBN & others.
ReplyDeleteRubbish English.
DeleteHehehee...keep deceiving yourself Mr President,we are watching..
ReplyDeleteIts like u've not been fully cured of ur ear infection.
ReplyDeleteA dreamer,I blame u na people wen vote u in,na cows believe much in u,
ReplyDeleteYes I believe that you will finally destroy Nigeria.
ReplyDeletehahahaha dis old man is living in fools paradise let Waite and see on till 2019
ReplyDeletePresido leave matter jare, we are tired of your deceitful administration, highly dissapointed, nothing to show forth apart from this your witch hunt tactise, left for me you are totally out of the game 2019
ReplyDelete