President Muhammadu Buhari has
said that securing Nigeria’s future was the legacy he desired to leave behind.
Buhari also vowed that he will
not shield anyone who is brazen enough to embezzle public funds; or betray
peoples trust, adding that such persons will face the music in due course.
He made this pledge at a town
hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Youth Moblisation, Buhari
Presidential Campaign Council on Friday in Abuja, according to NAN.
He said, “Our future must be
secured at all cost; that is the legacy I want to leave behind.
“I will continue to work towards
improving on security and national integrity, and continued growth and
development of our economy.
“Since 2003, this administration
has implemented policies aimed at the three main issues—security, economy and
fighting corruption.
“Those who know me know that I
don’t make promises I cannot keep; but I assure you that young people will
continue to be part of this administration even as we consolidate on the gains
so far and more to come.’’
He said that with over a population
of 70 per cent of youths making up Nigeria’s 180 million people, youths were as
important presently as they would be in future.
According to him, the voting
population of young people is the determinant factor in any election that any
politician cannot neglect.
The president expressed his
sincere appreciation for the support from young people during his presidential
ambitions from 2003 to date.
“I will like to assure you and
other young people who are not here that I remain committed to the cause of a
better Nigeria for you and for every generation.
“I am still committed to the
pledges I made to the country in 2015 and I stand before you today to renew
those same pledges that I will continue the fight against corruption.
“I can assure you that no one, no
matter who or what will make me compromise on fighting corruption.
“I will not shield anymore who is
brazen enough to embezzle public funds; or betray peoples trust. They will face
the music in due course,’’ he said.
Earlier while fielding questions
from the youths, Buhari said his experience as the Petroleum Minister under
former President Olusegun Obasanjo was brought to bear in tackling perennial
fuel scarcity.
On infrastructure, he said that
his administration had creditably acquitted itself in three years in spite of
earning far less than the previous administration.
He said that between 1999 and
2014/2015, oil production was 2.1 million barrels per day; at an average cost
of 100 dollar per barrel and it went up to 143 dollars per barrel.
Buhari said that in spite of the
huge earnings, the roads were in sorry state as they were last rehabilitated
during his days at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
He said that the railway was
virtually dead and there was no power even as some key actors in the previous
government admitted they spent N16 billion U.S. dollars on power.
“But you know more than I do;
where is the power? When we came, we were quite unfortunate, one, the price
from about 80/90 dollars per barrel then came down to 37/38 and was oscillating
between 40 and 50 dollars.
“And then the militants were
unleashed and production went half a million barrels a day from over 2 million
barrels per day.
“All the same, from the time we
took over till now, we tried to do the road, to do the rail, and to do the
power,’’ he said.
The Minister of Power, Works and
Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu also
responded to questions relevant to their ministries.
More so, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of
Kaduna State and Hadiza Usman, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority also
took questions from the youths.
On his part, Mr Tony Nwoye,
Director of Youth Mobilisation for APC Presidential Campaign Council, said he
was delighted that Buhari spared some time to interact with the youths.
He said he was confident that
Buhari was committed to a credible, free and fair election and urged the youths
to protect their votes
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