October 1st 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 G7 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 I.D.P. 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 sanitize 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
reorganization of Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes. It
would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not
finalized 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.
HappyIndependence Celebrations. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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