President Muhammadu Buhari says
some Nigerians want the conditions of the country to improve faster than may be
possible, “considering our resources and capabilities”.
He said having followed the
debate on restructuring, he has realised that no human law or edifice is
perfect.
Buhari said Nigeria’s problems
have more to do with process than structure.
“Whatever structure we develop
must periodically be perfected according to changing circumstances and the
country’s socio-economic developments,” he said.
“We Nigerians can be very
impatient and want to improve our conditions faster than may be possible
considering our resources and capabilities.
“When all the aggregates of
nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more
to do with process than structure.
“We tried the parliamentary
system, we jettisoned it. Now there are shrill cries for a return to the
parliamentary structure.
“In older democracies, these
systems took centuries to evolve so we cannot expect a copied system to fit
neatly our purposes.
“We must give a long period of
trial and improvement before the system we have adopted is anywhere near fit
for purpose.”
The president, however,
emphasised the need for a closer look at the cost of government and for the
public services long used to extravagance, waste and corruption to change for
the better.
He promised that his
administration would continue to be ever receptive to ideas which would improve
governance and contribute to the country’s peace and stability.
On the electioneering season
approaching, Buhari said politicians must avoid exploiting ethnicity and
religion by linking ethnicity with religion and religion with politics.
He said such dirty politics
should be avoided at all costs if Nigerians must live in harmony.
“In this respect, the rest of
Nigeria could learn from the south-western States which have successfully
internalised religion, ethnicity and politics,” he said.
“Political discourse should be
conducted with civility, decorum and in a constitutional manner.
“We all have a collective
responsibility to strengthen our democracy and entrench the rule of law.
“We should draw encouragement
from the series of by-elections conducted by INEC last year which were
generally violence free and their outcomes adjudged to be free and fair.”
On security, the president
reassured the citizens that security of life and property is still top of his
administration’s agenda.
He said: “We have since beaten
Boko Haram.
“Isolated attacks still occur,
but even the best-policed countries cannot prevent determined criminals from
committing terrible acts of terror as we have seen during the past years in
Europe, Asia, Middle East, elsewhere in Africa and in America.’’
According to him, the All
Progressives Congress (APC) government remains determined to protect all
Nigerians in line with its election pledge and promises.
The president thanked the
nation’s armed forces, the police, other para-military forces and traditional
authorities whom he said were working round the clock to ensure that all
citizens engaged in normal business in reasonable safety.
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