President Buhari receives in courtesy visit Former Ministers who served in his Military Administration from 1984 to 1985 in State House on 9th Oct 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja declared that he is fully committed to the unity of Nigeria, and will devote all his time and energy to promoting it for the benefit of Nigerians.
Speaking during a visit to the State House by a delegation of Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, the President called for better appreciation of the historical relationships among various communities in order to sustain the nation’s unity.
At another forum, President Buhari, while receiving some of the Ministers who served with him as military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985, same Wednesday, recalled “how we got things done then,” because it was a military administration, and pledged to “carry everyone along on my last lap as a democratically elected leader.”
During his audience with the Benue State delegation, President Buhari, according to a statement by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity), stressed that ties between the Tiv and his own ethnic Fulani stock, which predated him and the current generation, helped in ensuring peaceful and harmonious co-existence among the people and expressed optimism that such cordial bonds will continue to endure among various groups and serve as a strong unifying force in the country.
He decried the misunderstanding of internal conflicts by many people at home and abroad, citing the farmer-herders clashes which in several places had been misconstrued as religious, when in fact they arose from social and cultural factors.
He restated his appeal for better understanding of the nation’s diverse cultures in order to engender a healthier co-existence among the people, while fortifying and strengthening the unity of the country.
Responding to the narration of the Tor Tiv on the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the recent conflicts in the State, the President said he was aware of that, and all that obtains in the Northeast, the Northwest and the South-South.
He noted that it is in realisation of the foregoing and the urgent need to ameliorate the plight of the IDPs that he created the new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, “so that we have a ministry that coordinates their demands, and we avoid duplication of resources.”
President Buhari expressed delight with the leadership of the Tor Tiv and other traditional rulers in their various communities as well as for their strong support for his administration.
He promised to look into the “long list” of the delegation’s demands, and thanked the royal fathers for showing appreciation for what his administration has done in the State in terms of projects and appointments.
Earlier, the Tor Tiv had described the recent triumph of the President at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal as “God-given victory and mandate to reconstruct, rebuild and unify the country and take it to the Next Level of socio-economic development.”
“We are here to pledge our support and encouragement to your administration and its laudable programmes,” His Royal Majesty added.
The meeting with some of the Ministers who served with him when he was military head of state, proved to be a refreshing time of going down memory lane for President Buhari and his guests.
In a statement by Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) President Buhari thanked the former Ministers “for being consistently in touch.”
A minute silence was observed in memory of those who have passed on among the former Ministers.
Leader of delegation, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who served as Minister of External Affairs, said the team came to congratulate the President on his achievements in security, foreign affairs, anti-corruption, education, and many others.
“We were appointed 35 years and nine months ago. Eighteen of us were sworn in. Your leadership was firm, but you also gave us free hand to operate. You knew what each person was doing. We will never forget the opportunity you gave us. We remain patriots,” Professor Gambari said.
He commended the President on the newly constituted Economic Advisory Council, adding that the same should be considered for security and foreign affairs.
Other former Ministers in the team were Major General Muhammed Magoro (Internal Affairs), Dr Emmanuel Nsan (Health), Alhaji Ibrahim Yakima Abdullah (Education) and Brig-Gen Ahmed Abdullahi (Communications).
President Buhari also same day, received the Bayelsa All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate for the November 16, 2019 election, Hon. David Lyon.
The candidate was led to the State House by APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of State, Petroleum, Chief Timpre Sylva.
