Read below the text of speech by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark Nigeria’s 55th
Independence anniversary.
OCTOBER 1
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 G-7 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 IDP 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 sanitise 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 re-organisation of
Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes. It
would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government
had not finalised 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.
Culled: The Guardian
