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President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to assemble a team of competent Nigerians to help implement reform programmes that will improve the lives of citizens.
The President stated this yesterday while delivering an address at the maiden edition of the celebration of June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in Abuja.
Buhari, despite having been inaugurated into office for a second term on 29th May 2019, has yet to give an indication when his next cabinet will be composed.
It took the President six months to assemble his cabinet when he was inaugurated in 2015.
The event, which held at the Eagle Square, brought together world leaders, including President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz; President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; President of Liberia, George Weah; President of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso and President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Others are President of Senegal, Macky Sall; Prime Minister of Uganda, Ruhakana Rugunda; President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow; President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou; President of Guinea Bissau, José Mário Gómes Vaz and President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, among others.
Speaking at the event, Buhari said: “Over the next four years, we are committed to assembling a strong team of Nigerians and allies, to implement our transformative plans and proposals.
“We will see significant focus, resource and, where necessary reform, in tertiary and technical education to reposition Nigeria’s workforce for the modern technological age.
“We will accelerate investments in primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare programmes, interventions and infrastructure as well as in upgrading of our medical personnel to stem the flight of our best-trained people.”
President Buhari explained that despite the challenges faced by the country in the last four years, he was optimistic that Nigeria’s future remains unshaken.
“My optimism about Nigeria’s future is unshaken and Nigeria’s role in the world as an emerging economic force is without a doubt,” he said.
Buhari noted that his government has been mapping out policies, measures and laws to maintain unity and, at the same time, lift the bulk of Nigerians out of poverty and onto the road to prosperity.
Buhari noted that his government has been mapping out policies, measures and laws to maintain unity and, at the same time, lift the bulk of Nigerians out of poverty and onto the road to prosperity.
He said, with good leadership in the country, Nigeria can lift as high as 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“This task is by no means unattainable. China has done it. India has done it. Indonesia has done it. Nigeria can do it. These are all countries characterized by huge burdens of population.
“China and Indonesia succeeded under authoritarian regimes. India succeeded in a democratic setting. We can do it. With leadership and a sense of purpose, we can lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years,” he stressed.
The President stated that his administration is laying the foundation and taking bold steps in transforming Nigeria and liberating her people from the shackles of poverty.
“For the next four years, we will remain committed to improving the lives of people by consolidating efforts to address key issues as well as emerging challenges of climate change, resettling displaced communities and dealing decisively with the new flashes of insecurity across the country, and the impacts on food scarcity and regional stability.
“We are not daunted by the enormity of the tasks ahead. Instead, we are revived by this new mandate to work collaboratively with state and local governments, legislators, the diplomatic corps and all Nigerians to rebuild and reposition our country as the heartbeat and reference point for our continent,” he said.
He reiterated his commitment to keeping Nigeria one and uplifting the socio-economic life of its citizens.
“I was involved at close quarters in the struggle to keep Nigeria one.
“I can, therefore, do no more than dedicate the rest of my life to working for the unity of Nigeria and the uplift of Nigerian lives,” he said.
The President, who announced the re-naming of the Abuja National Stadium after the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, enjoined Nigerians to join forces with his administration to put the country on the right track of development.
While justifying the decision on the National Stadium, Buhari said: “Correcting injustice is a pre-requisite for peace and unity.
As part of the process of healing and reconciliation, I approved the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day and invested the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Babagana Kingibe with National Honours, as I did with the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. The purpose was to partially atone for the previous damage done in annulling the Presidential election of that year.
“Today, I propose the re-naming of the Abuja National Stadium. Henceforth it will be called Moshood Abiola National Stadium.”
Buhari told the gathering that his government will continue to work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programmes, education, technology, and improved information.
According to him, “Our focus will not be to help the privileged few, but to ensure that Nigeria works for Nigerians of all persuasions. That is a more just arrangement.”
Buhari, who pledged to move the nation to the next level of prosperity, peace and stability, reassured that his administration would fulfill its promise of securing the country, improve the economy and fight corruption to a standstill.
“At the heart of inequality and insecurity is pervasive corruption. When we took office, we realised that if you fight corruption, corruption will fight back – and we have seen this at all levels.
“For Nigeria to progress, a collective resolution to address corruption and foster broad-based prosperity is required to create a country that is not only for a few privileged, but for all Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, for Nigeria to progress, a collective resolution to address corruption and foster broad-based prosperity is required to create a country that is not only for a few privileged, but for all Nigerians.
The President also stressed that the government under his leadership will not tolerate actions by any individual or groups of individuals who seek to attack the way of life of Nigerians or those who seek to corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of citizens.
He said: “We will crack down on those who incite ordinary innocent people to violence and unrest. We will ensure that such actions are met with the strong arm of the law.”
On arrival at the Democracy Day ceremony yesterday at about 10:23a.m., Buhari proceeded to inspect the guard on parade mounted by troops of the Nigerian military and the Police.
The event proceeded with the President riding in a special inspection vehicle after which the troop performed musical displays and silent drills. Breaking into a team of guards, the troop then took on the slow and quick match parade to the admiration of the cheering crowd.
