We’ll keep doing our best until we leave, says Buhari; Urges elites to cooperate more for challenges to be addressed

admin December 23, 2021 Lead Story, Local, News Leave a comment 295 Views

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State, said his administration will keep giving its best for the development of the country until May, 2023, reiterating that he will handover as stipulated by the Constitution.

The President spoke after the commissioning of Oriental Energies Resources Ltd Hanger, Muhammadu Indimi Distance Learning Centre and an International Conference Centre donated to the University of Maiduguri by business mogul, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi.

President Buhari also commissioned the Tijjani Bolori Memorial Secondary School and the first fly-over in Borno State, Custom Roundabout (3.5km) with a stretch of 10 km Gamboru Ngala Road constructed by the state government.

The President said, “I know I swore by the Constitution, and I will leave in 17 months. I pray that the person that will take over from us will also follow the targets of securing the country and building the economy.

“Without securing the country, you cannot grow the economy.”

President Buhari said Nigerians should appraise the performance of the administration based on what the situation was on security, economy and corruption before he came in, and where it is now.

“We have a great country,” he said, “and we thank God for giving us so much resources. But we need to develop our resources.”

The President noted that development would be more sustainable by empowering the people.

On security in the North West, he said it was sad that the people who lived together, sharing same culture and outlook for a long time would start stealing, kidnapping and killing one another.

The President said the military will come down hard on the North West to stabilise the situation, having procured more hardwares.

“I am highly impressed with what I have seen at this state of the art Centre for Distance Learning and Auditorium sited here, the University of Maiduguri. I am told that this international conference hall has 1,300 seats. The high quality standard of this edifice is a major contribution by Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi. This intervention will benefit not only students from Borno and the North East but also students from all parts of Nigeria.

“For the Oriental Energy Resources Hangar which I commissioned, it will welcome and offer support services to aircraft and pilots involved with Humanitarian Air Services,” the President noted.

President Buhari also commended Prof. Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno, for the work he had done in two years, noting that he was in the state earlier in June to commission developmental projects.

In his remarks, Governor Zulum appreciated the President for honoring the state, adding that Alhaji Indimi’s contributions to the development of the state showed he loved his people.

“Words cannot convey our gratitude for the statesmanship,” he said.

Governor Zulum said the state had recognised the contributions of Alhaji Indimi by renaming the Damboa Road after him, now Alhajji Muhammadu Indimi Road.

In his remarks, Alhaji Indimi said he was motivated to build the Distance Learning Centre and the International Conference Centre to encourage education in the state.

“I believe the centre will help in delivering training and skills as well as encourage those who will be taking lessons from remote places,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Aliyu Shugaba, thanked President Buhari for honoring the invitation and Alhaji Indimi for the contribution.

President Buhari during a courtesy call at the palace of the Shehu of Borno as part of his visit to the state, said more cooperation among elites in the country, with a commitment to inform people on realities and mobilize for development will help in resolving the challenges facing the nation.

He said the elites owe it to the people to inform, guide and shape opinions since they had more access and knowledge on the economy.

“What our country needs now is the continued cooperation of the elites. They know the problem of the nation.

“It is good that they educate the less informed about the realities,” he said.

The President noted that there was a need to be more careful in assessing the performance of the administration as it should be relative to the time and resources available.

“On our three targets, we should look at where we were when we came in and where we are now in relation to time and resources,” he said.

President Buhari noted that in spite of a drop in production output and price of crude oil, the administration utilized what was available to make a difference on security and the economy.

The President assured Nigerians that his administration will use the remaining period to consolidate on efforts in restoring peace and improving the economy.

“For the period remaining, we will keep doing our best especially in infrastructure so that those who will come after us will not have cause to complain,” he added.

In his remarks, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, expressed appreciation that the President was visiting the state for a second time in less than six months to commission developmental projects.

He said the people of Borno State were enjoying gradual return of peace, which enabled many to return to their homes and farms, with a commendable turnout in harvest in 2021.

The Governor thanked the military, paramilitary and the Civilian JTF for efforts in restoring order to the state.

Zulum also appreciated the interventions of the President, particularly in housing and energy, which include the 50 megawatts NNPC project to improve power supply in the state.

“May Allah give the President wisdom and fortitude to carry on with the good works. We remain eternally grateful,” he said.

In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, Dr Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El Kanemi, said the state had started experiencing a new lease of peace, with many people returning to their farms and businesses.

According to the royal father, the state had also enjoyed many infrastructural developments since 2015, thanking President Buhari for taking special interest in the people of the state.