NIGERIA@57: Buhari insists restructuring, power devolution must go through N’Assembly

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his stand that those clamouring for the restructuring of Nigeria of any kind must go through the National Assembly.

“At all events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies. These are the proper and legal fora for National debate, not some lop-sided, un-democratic body with pre-determined set of objectives,” he said.

He stated this during his national speech on Sunday to mark the nation’s 57th independence anniversary. He lauded his administration for ensuring political freedom that saw opposition parties winning elections at the state and National Assembly levels.

He said, “In the past two years, Nigeria has recorded appreciable gains in political freedom. A political party at the centre losing governorship elections, National Assembly seats and even state assemblies to opposition parties is new to Nigeria.

“Added to these is a complete freedom to associate, to hold and disseminate opinions. Such developments clearly attest to the country’s growing political development.”

Buhari said it was quite proper for people to talk about the restructuring of Nigeria but blamed the demand for giving room to “highly irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country.”
He said,“Recent calls for re-structuring, quite proper in a legitimate debate, has let in highly irresponsible groups to call for dismemberment of the country. We cannot and we will not allow such advocacy.

“I am very disappointed that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their hot-headed youths what the country went through. Those who were there should tell those who were not there, the consequences of such folly.

“As a young army officer, I took part from the beginning to the end of our tragic civil war costing about two million lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering. Those who are agitating for a rerun were not born by 1967 and have no idea of the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through”.
On Niger Delta concerns Buhari said that “government is keeping up the momentum of dialogue with stakeholders in the Niger Delta to keep the peace. We intend to address genuine grievances of the communities.

“Government is grateful to the responsible leadership of those communities and will pursue lasting peace in the Niger Delta.”

Buhari recalled how when oil prices was at an average of $100 per barrel and about 2.1 million barrels a day, the country’s leaders squandered its wealth and neglecting its social and physical infrastructure. He also bemoaned how Nigerians were left with no savings and huge infrastructure deficit.

He then said that the rallying cry of the current APC government’s under him to restore security, rebalance the economy and fight corruption was not all rhetoric.

“The country must first be secured. The economy must be rebalanced so that we do not depend on oil alone. We must fight corruption, which is Nigeria’s number one enemy. Our administration is tackling these tasks in earnest,” he vowed.

President Buhari, who highlighted his administration’s achievements in the last two years in the areas of security, economy, and the fight against corruption, added that as the nation entered the second half of his four-year term of office, that there will be accelerate progress and intensified efforts to fix the country’s challenges and problems.

On the menace of Boko Haram insurgence, Buhari express gratitude to the nation’s Armed Forces for rolling back the frontiers of the terrorist group and reducing them to a position the now “cowardly attacks on soft and vulnerable targets.”

He also appreciated Nigeria’s neighbour countries and the international community for their different efforts as ensuring the defeat of terrorism.

On Chibok girls he said, “Government is working round the clock to ensure the release of the remaining Chibok girls, as well as other persons in Boko Haram captivity.”

Addressing issues of myriad security challenges currently facing the country, President Buhari said that “Government will continue to support the Armed Forces and other security agencies to fight not only terrorism, but kidnapping, armed robbery, herdsmen/farmers violence and to ensure peace, stability and security in our country.”
On the economy, the President said his government has remained proactive in its diversification policy.

According to him, the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, launched in November 2015, has been an outstanding success with N43.92bn released through the CBN and 13 participating institutions.

He further said that 200,000 smallholder farmers from 29 states of the federation were benefitting; with 233,000 hectares of farmland being used to cultivate eight commodities, namely, rice, wheat, maize, cotton, soya bean, poultry, cassava, groundnuts and fish farming.

Governors of Kebbi, Lagos, Ebonyi and Jigawa states, were commended by the President for their support to the rice and fertiliser revolutions.

Also, he commeneded governors of Ondo, Edo, Delta, Imo, Cross River, Benue, Ogun, Kaduna and Plateau states for their support of the Presidential initiative for palm oil, rubber, cashew, cassava, potatoes and others crops.
“With the abundance of rainfall last year and this year, agriculture has enjoyed divine intervention.

“Since December last year, this administration has produced over seven million 50kg bags of fertiliser. Eleven blending plants with a capacity of 2.1 million metric tons have been reactivated. We have saved $150m in foreign exchange and N60bn in subsidy. Fertiliser prices have dropped from N13,000 to N5,500 per 50kg bag.

“Furthermore, a new presidential initiative is starting with each state of the federation creating a minimum of 10,000 jobs for unemployed youths, again with the aid of CBN’s development finance initiatives.

“Power remains a huge problem. As of September 12, production of power reached an all-time high of 7,001 megawatts. Government is increasing its investment, clearing up the operational and financial logjam bedevilling the industry. We hope to reach 10,000 megawatts by 2020.

“Key priorities include better energy mix through solar and hydro technologies. I am glad to say that after many years in limbo, the Mambilla Power Project has taken off.

“Elsewhere in the economy, the special window created for manufacturers, investors and exporters and foreign exchange requirements has proved very effective. Since April, about $7bn has come through this window alone. The main effect of these policies is improved confidence in the economy and better investment sentiments.

Read also: NIGERIA@57: Buhari’s 852 days in power, 57 achievements and a country still on the edge

“The country has recorded seven consecutive months of lower inflation, naira rate is beginning to stabilise, appreciating from N525 per $1 in February this year to N360 today. Broad-based economic growth is leading us out of recession.

“Furthermore, in order to stabilise the polity, the Federal Government gave additional support to states in the form of State Excess Crude Account loans, Budget Support Facility, and Stabilisation Fund Release to state and local government as follows: N200bn in 2015; N441bn in 2016; and N1tn in 2017, totalling N1.642tn,” he said.

The President added that government’s current N500bn Special Intervention Programme was targeting groups through the Home-grown School Feeding Programme; N-Power job creation to provide loans to small-scale traders and artisans; Conditional Cash Transfer; Family Homes Fund and Social Housing Scheme.

Buhari who noted he was aware that fight against corruption was not going to be a straightforward task, however reaffirmed his administration’s determination to eradicate corruption from the nation. He hinted that his administration had empowered teams of prosecutors, assembled detailed databases, and accelerated the recovery of stolen funds.

On new institution reforms Buhari listed enforcement of Treasury Single Account, the Whistle-blower Policy, and the Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System.

“We have signed multilateral agreements on criminal matters with friendly countries. There are signs of increasing cooperation from the judiciary.

“Recently, the Chief Justice of the Federation directed heads of all our courts of first instance and Appeal to accelerate hearings of corruption cases and dismiss any judicial officers found to have been compromised.

“Justice Salami has just been appointed to chair the Judiciary’s anti-graft committee. Government expects a lot from this committee.

“I commend the National Assembly for refocusing on its oversight committees. They should, in addition, ensure swift passage of enabling corruption laws. But fighting corruption is a bottom to top operation,” he added.

 

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