…says I’m fit to rule
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the last lap of his four years as Nigerian leader would be tough.
Buhari stated this when members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) gathered at the presidential villa to congratulate him on his victory during last Saturday’s presidential election.
At the ceremony held inside the council chambers, the president said that it was for such reasons that he reminded Nigerians during the campaigns that government needed to secure the country and relevant institutions before any meaningful progress could be made.
He said: “My last lap of four years, I think it is going to be tough because people are being forgetful. That was why wherever I went, I reminded them of the campaign promise of our party, particularly security, as I kept on saying that you have to secure the country well and institutions.
“If you don’t secure the country, you can’t achieve anything no matter how many programmes you put in place. Secondly, on the economy, unemployment is a problem of this country as a whole. More than 60 per cent of the youths need to be kept busy. I realised that God heard our prayers.”
President Buhari also said that he had proven his medical fitness to skeptics during the extensive campaigns across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The President said his ability to campaign sometimes in two states per day during the period, showed that he was sound and ready to continued in leading Nigeria for the next four years.
Buhari urged Nigerians to be ready with the tough stands of his government in the next four years.
According to him, the next phase of the government will continue in tackling insecurity, fighting corruption and creating numerous jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youths.
He explained that he was pleased with the decision by council members to visit and congratulate him over the victory.
“I am pleased that members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) are collectively meeting here today where we play our weekly role to congratulate me. I think if I have lost the election, I don’t know how many of them will be here.
“During the campaigns, I tried to visit the 36 states and Abuja, firstly, to prove to the other side that I’m fit. I tried to cover two states per day and secondly, not to make bodyfeel that any state had been left out.
“So, I thank God that He gave me the strength and health to see through my plan and I think it is appreciated.”
Buhari was presented with congratulatory cards by both the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Winifred Oyo-Ita, on behalf of public and civil servants in the country.
At the ceremony that started around 12 noon, the SGF spoke on behalf of the public service and congratulated the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for their victory at the polls. According to him, the President’s victory is a well deserved success as it is a referendum of honesty and sincerity.
He said that the public service totally aligned itself with the millions of other Nigerians who queued up at the polling units to cast their ballots.
A total of 19 ministers were present during the occasion held inside the Council Chamber in Aso Rock and attended by Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; Head of Service, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj Gen Babagana Mongunu (rtd), and some presidential aides.