Fayemi to Buhari: “We – governors, ministers and heads of government agencies – are dedicated to building a better Nigeria, on your watch.’’
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
In what appears to be a veiled threat to his critics, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged Nigerians to resist those he labelled agents of destabilisation bent on causing breakdown of law and order in the country.
Buhari who spoke in Abuja at an Iftar dinner with governors, ministers and heads of government agencies reportedly assured that no individual or group will be allowed to destabilise Nigeria.
‘‘We have the land, we have the resources, and we have the people. But I do not know why people will allow themselves to be successfully subverted to destabilise their own country,’’ the President said.
A statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said Buhari, who thanked the governors and ministers for honouring his invitation to break the Ramadan fast, expressed confidence that in spite of the current security challenges, the country will succeed.
On the forthcoming general elections, Adesina said his principal affirmed that being a beneficiary of free, fair and credible elections, the introduction of technology and the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will make it impossible for anyone to claim millions of votes again in the country.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was amongst the governors that broke fast with the president commended him for demonstrating resilience and determination at a crucial period in Nigeria’s history.
‘‘We have a leader who is not distracted by momentary challenges but has continued to commit to the renewal of our nation and we, governors, ministers and heads of government agencies are equally dedicated to building a better Nigeria, on your watch,’’ he said.
Noting that this year’s Holy month of Ramadan coincided with the just concluded Christian Lenten period, the Governor of Ekiti said it holds enormous spiritual value on the benefits of renewal, sacrifice, almsgiving, forgiveness and healing for the individual as well as the nation.
President Buhari has been heavily criticised for the crises that have enveloped the country.
In his Easter message, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, accused the Buhari administration of ruining Nigeria.
Bishop Kukah said Nigeria under Buhari’s watch has become one big emergency national hospital with full occupancy.
“With everything literally broken down, our hearts are broken. Our family dreams are broken. Homes are broken. Churches, Mosques, and infrastructure are broken. Our educational system is also broken.
“Our children’s lives and future are broken politics, economy, energy system is also broken. Our security system is broken. Our roads and rails are broken. Only corruption is alive and well,” Bishop said.
According to the Catholic clergy, “Nigerians can no longer recognize their country which has been battered by men and women from the dark womb of time.”
On Tuesday, Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, backed Kukah, insisting that the recent presidential pardon granted to former Governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame of Plateau and Taraba States respectively, was “putrid presidential Easter egg” on the faces of Nigerians.
“Coming from a leader who had placed all his eggs in one basket, labeled Anti-Corruption, this is one egg squashed against Nigerian faces that they shall not forget – or wipe off – in a hurry,” Soyinka said.
Whenever he has his back on the wall of criticism, Buhari has a way of threatening imaginary detractors.