ways of doing things will keep holding Nigeria back, says President
Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja, promising to pursue inclusive and
participatory growth that creates opportunities for all.
Receiving members of the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) at the State
House, President Buhari assured Nigerians that his administration will
leave Nigeria better than when it came to power by focusing on the
tripod of tackling insecurity, promoting economic diversification and
fighting corruption.
“Fulfilling these three promises is fundamental to taking Nigeria to the
Next Level. I assure you that I am resolute on the delivery of these
promises. When we leave, Nigeria will be a far better place than when we
came,” the President said.
He said efforts were made in the last four years to return Nigeria to
path of sustainable growth, especially in re-energizing the economy,
appreciating BMO for its diligence and sacrifices in ensuring effective
communication with Nigerians, despite distractions.
“It is not an easy job to sell this administration’s successes: we are
doing unpopular things in the face of powerful individuals and taking on
vested interests who are accustomed to the corrupt old order.
“But we must do things the right way; if we promised change, then we
must deliver it, regardless of whose interest we touch. There must be a
manifest departure from the old order,” he noted.
The President, who commended the organisation for supporting his vision
since 2014, and propagating the achievements of the administration since
2015, said he remains committed to ending the challenge of insecurity in
the country.
“One message that is dear to me, that I urge you to propagate, is that I
am determined to end the security challenges we face as a country, and
make Nigeria a peaceful and prosperous country,” he added.
In his remark, the Coordinator of the media organisation and Senior
Special Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, said the group
had grown into an institution as it was in place before elections in
2015, remained throughout the President’s first term, and will outlive
the second term.
Shehu said the organisation remains committed to the advancement of the
“Buhari presidency”, attributing its survival to some good spirited
Nigerians.
The Chairman of BMO, Chief Niyi Akinsiju, said the organisation’s
“situation room” had met every day since 2015, following the directive
of the President that it should be cultivated into a communication hub
after winning the elections.
He said President Buhari’s administration achieved more than his
predecessors, listing some of the key milestones to include
resuscitation of railway, road, housing projects, and initiating a
social security platform that had catered for about 12 million
Nigerians.
Akinsiju said the revolution in the agricultural sector was historical
with evidence of lifting many farmers out of poverty, assuring the
President that BMO will work to propagate achievements of the second
term, already branded Next Level.