Apparently not unmindful of the latest pro-Biafra protests and insurgency rocking some parts of the country, President Muhammadu Buhari declared Monday that Nigeria will remain one, indivisible entity.
According to him, the fact that the country witnessed a lot of internal strife and a civil war since independence, it has remained united as proof of the people’s resolve to remain one.
The President made this remark during the launch of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem and appeal fund at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and donated N10 million to formally launch the 2016 emblem
Buhari said he was proud that he was addressing the gathering in honour of those who devoted their lives to the service of the country and the world in general, adding that since independence, Nigeria had witnessed a lot of internal strifes, survived a civil war but has remained united.
In his words, “Today’s occasion reminds us of the need to appreciate the noble contributions of our fallen heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice to maintain national and international peace and security. Our nation has recently celebrated 55 years of political independence and continues to remain as one indivisible entity despite several grievous challenges.
“This feat achieved by the country is an eloquent testimony to the determination of our citizens to remain as one people. The sacrifices of our fallen heroes, heroines and veterans who rose up to the security challenges cannot go unnoticed.”
Hailing the courage and sacrifices of men and women of the armed forces in grappling with the wave of terrorism, oil theft and piracy in some parts of the country, he noted that they had displayed unalloyed loyalty and commitment to Nigeria.
“In their arduous task to keep Nigeria safe and united, some of these gallant officers and men lost their lives. To them, we pay special tribute and pray for the repose of their souls.
“Fellow countrymen and women, consider the situation and conditions under which they died or suffered physical incapacitation. It behoves on us who are living beneficiaries of their sacrifice to contribute towards the welfare and sustenance of their dependants. Our modest effort will go a long way to demonstrate our depth of gratitude and ameliorate their present condition,” he said.
Pledging that the federal government would continue to show commitment in addressing the challenges facing the veterans, Buhari said that government recently increased their pensions.
“We are also happy to note that the Military Pensions Scheme is running efficiently even as verification exercise for ex-servicemen and women was successfully conducted recently. The Ministry of Defence has been urged to come up with programmes that would enhance the living standards of the veterans,” he noted.
He asked states and local governments to continue to lend their support by giving concessions to veterans, even as he called on well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to generously support the Nigerian Legion in its worthy initiative.
He further noted that the emblem launched was meant to appeal to all Nigerians to lend their support to the legion, even as he encouraged all of them to procure and wear the emblem with pride throughout the remembrance period.
This, the President said, would show that the citizenry appreciates the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and veterans and also reassure those still serving that their services to the fatherland will never be forgotten.
Buhari told the gathering that in future, the wearing of the emblem would become a requirement for all the staff and visitors to gain access into government establishments.
He continued: “We are gathered here today to observe a worthy tradition of acknowledging and appreciating the gallantry and accomplishments of our veterans in the First and Second World Wars, Peace Support Operations around the world, and internal security operations particularly the ongoing campaign against terrorism in our country.
“I am, therefore, proud to address this solemn gathering in honour of our distinguished veterans who devoted their lives to the service of our country and the world in general. Today’s occasion reminds us of the need to appreciate the noble contributions of our fallen heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice to maintain national and international peace and security.”
Earlier, the Minister of Defence Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali, had emphasised the important role played by the armed forces in the corporate existence of the country.
… We’ll follow due process in fighting corruption
President Muhammadu Buhari has restated that his administration will give full regard to due process and the rule of law in the prosecution of its war against corruption.
Speaking in audience with a delegation from Foursquare Gospel Church, Buhari said that while he was committed to recovering stolen funds, the present administration’s efforts in this regard will be pursued fully within the ambit of the law.
“Under military rule, people could be arrested and held on the basis of suspicion, but in a true democracy, anyone accused of an offense must be presumed innocent till pronounced guilty by a court of law,” he stated
Mr Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media, quoted the President in a statement as saying that his administration was diligently building up its case against those accused of stealing government funds, by getting the necessary evidence and facts before formal charges are brought against them.
He congratulated the Foursquare Church in Nigeria on its 60th anniversary convention held on Sunday.
In his remarks, the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev Felix Meduoye, lauded the Buhari administration for its positive strides in the war against corruption as well as the fight against insurgency.
Meduoye, who said the church would continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria, also noted that President Buhari was on course to deliver the much-needed change to Nigerians.
He said, “The President is on the right path, and we hope he will stick to what was promised in his manifesto. In the next few years, I see prosperity, growth and revamping of the economy. It takes a lot; we will pray.”
… Politicians must imbibe culture of true democracy
President Buhari has remarked that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had vowed that the party would stay in power for 60 years, were not prepared for any transition that would not be from themselves to themselves.
The President made the remark at a stakeholders’ dialogue on strengthening Nigeria’s transition framework for democratic consolidation organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Buhari said the last election heralded the first real transition in the history of the nation, as it was the first time that an opposition party would unseat the ruling party.
According to him, “The then ruling government was completely caught unawares by the outcome of the election.”
“How can they, when they felt invincible, judging by their perceived strength and assumed popularity and the huge resources at their disposal?”
Buhari noted that because the then ruling party was not mentally prepared for the outcome of the election, its members were unable to put in place structures that would make the transition seamless.
“The absence of this almost marred the transition process that followed. Because our country lacks an institutionalized transition system, the then ruling government simply did not know what to do, and unpatriotic elements exploited the situation, which almost led to a national crisis,” he noted.
He added that in solidifying the concept of governance as a continuum, “it is absolutely important, therefore, that we put in place an institutionalized system that guarantees a seamless transition of power, whether intra – that is, from a ruling government to itself, or inter – from the ruling power to the opposition.
“This will in turn reduce the kind of tension and anxiety that attended the last transition and set the tone for a predictable and orderly transfer of power.”
The President urged all politicians to imbibe the culture of true democracy, saying that by doing so, they would appreciate the power of the people in determining whether or not they remain in power.
He assured that the current administration was irrevocably committed to tackling insecurity, corruption, creating jobs through the diversification of the economy and upgrading of infrastructure.
“We are also determined to ensure that our change agenda touches all spheres of our national life,” he stated.
Buhari stated that in line with the current administration’s change mantra, which seeks to achieve a paradigm shift in the way Nigerians do things, whether as individuals, government or corporate bodies, all politicians must study the international best practices as far as transition frameworks are concerned and make recommendations for a framework that will best suit Nigeria and also stand the test of time.
The President added that all democratic administrations must look beyond their immediate mandate, adding that elected governments must eschew arrogance and shun personalizing and politicizing the system.
-Leadership