President Muhammadu Buhari,
Monday night, disclosed that he warned his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, to always
stay safe to avoid being mobbed during Trader Moni disbursement in markets
across Nigeria.
He said this at the breaking of
fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he hosted top government
officials.
Buhari, who said he was upset
with the level of poverty in the land, challenged the elite to do something
very urgent to ameliorate the pathetic situation.
“When I drive around the country
what upset me very much is the status of our poor people in this country – you
see young people, the so-called Almajiris with tore dresses, with plastic bowl.
They are looking basically for what to eat.
“The question of education (to
them) is a luxury. I think Nigerian elite we are all failing because I think we
should have a programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for
our people no matter how poor they are.
“So, I welcome the Vice-President
initiate of the School feeding programme. If you check in your localities the
enrolment into schools improved because a lot of children can get at least one
good meal a day. This is the position of this country.
“This `market money’, I warned
the Vice-President. I don’t like him to be mobbed, especially the way I see
hefty women coming and confronting him, he should be very careful.
“These are very good initiates.
Initially, I was quite reluctant but I must admit that they are very good
programmes and they endear this government to a lot of poor people because of
these N5,000 or N10,000 being given to them as loans.
“They are fantastic programmes
and I have to admit quite honestly that the Vice-President was ahead of me by
insisting on them.
“But he knows me if he insists I
will say `okay go and do what you like.’ He did it and I’m very pleased as he
is being very successful,’’ he said.
Vice-President Osinbajo, who
spoke on behalf of the members of the cabinet, said that regardless of ethnic
and religion affiliations Nigerians must continue to be their brothers’ keepers
and must work towards building a united nation.
On the Ramadan period, Osinbajo
said: “Mr President I must say that there are some reasons I had always look
forward to the Ramadan session. But some of those reasons are now being
seriously challenged.
“The first of those reasons is
that during the Ramadan meetings are usually very short. But, unfortunately
last Wednesday Mr President seemed to have destroyed that very good notion by
taking us through the longest FEC meeting in the history of the Federal
Executive Council.
“So, we shouldn’t expect anymore
that meeting will necessary be short during the Ramadan.
“The second is that some of my
friends are far less troublesome during the Ramadan. People like Lai Mohammed,
Abba Kyari, Adamu Adamu they are usually very well behaved during the Ramadan.
But I’m not even sure that that is true anymore.
“So, I think that all we can
truly expect now from the session is possibility what it was meant to do which
is to remind us of some of our responsibilities to ourselves as brothers and to
our fellow men/women especially our roles as leaders.
“I think is auspicious that this
particular (end of) Ramadan falls at the eve of the new term in office.
“So, it is an opportunity for us
to remind ourselves over the core mandates which is the welfare and security of
majority of our people,’’ he said.
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Rice is still very costly sir.Let Government see what she can do reduce the price of food cost throughout the country don't limit your food production to only few state reimburse from now before you take the new oaths of office poor are suffering let enjoy your program on on food adequacy. I will be very happy if this can be effective very soon.Thank you and God bless Nigerian and God bless the federal Government.
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