1st October, 2015
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his delay in the appointment of ministers was partly caused by the manner in which he took over power from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the reorganization of government structures being undertaken by his administration.
The President made this explanation in a nationwide address broadcast live mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary that he was aware of anxiety and heat generated in Nigeria and abroad by the delay in appointing his ministers.
He however noted that the wait for the ministerial list is over with the submission of the names of first batch of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly in the speech in which the President also talked about the war against corruption, the war against Boko Haram, the economy and his administration’s efforts to bring transparency to management of financial resources.
The President added that his administration inherited a plethora of problems that are urgently seeking to be quickly addressed if the country must move forward in terms of growth and development.
“Fellow Nigerians, there has been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in the 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 handover 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.
“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.”
In obvious response to allegation of witch-hunting in the ongoing war against corruption, President Buhari said his administration is not interested in persecuting anyone over any political disagreement, but people must be ready to bear the consequences of their actions.
“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. The President said his administration has been engaged in tackling some of the problems he inherited while introducing transparency into government to stop the mismanagement of the past.
“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”.
On the war against Boko Haram insurgents, the President said he toured the neighbouring countries, marshal led a coalition of armed forces of the five nations to confront and defeat Boko Haram and also met also the G7 leaders and other friendly presidents in an effort to build an international coalition against Boko Haram immediately he assumed office.
He added that his efforts has led to weakening of Boko Haram, though the insurgents have resorted to attacking soft targets.
“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 Internally Displaced Persons’ camps is indicative of their cowardice and desperation. I have instructed security and local authorities to tighten vigilance in vulnerable places.”
On his efforts to revive the Nigeria petroleum sector, the President said his administration has ensured adequate supply of petroleum products across the country and has also instituted reforms of the sector.
“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.”
“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.
The President who promised that his administration would execute projects that would impact positively on their lives also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with his government. He added that for positive change desired by all to occur, Nigerians must also be ready to change their attitudes.
“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 behaviour 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,” he noted.
President Buhari said October 1 should be celebrated as Independence Day in spite of the situations Nigerians find themselves 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,” he added.
The missing ingredient on the path of Nigeria becoming a great nation, the President noted in the address 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 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. He also again acknowledge the role played by former President Goodluck Jonathan in helping to prevent national chaos that some analysts had predicted will follow the 2015 general elections.
“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.”