24 hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo issued a damning statement against President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to jettison any ambition for 2019, the federal government has issued a rebuttal.
Obasanjo in the statement titled; The Way Out: A Clarion Call For Coalition For Nigeria Movement, alleged that Buhari has failed on all fronts, stressing that the task of governing Nigeria was a 25/7 job and not 24/7.
In a response by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Buhari thanked Obasanjo for taking time if his busy schedule to write such a lengthy letter.
The statement issued by the minister reads in full:
“We have read the press statement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the State of the Nation.
For the record, Chief Obasanjo is a patriot, and he has proven this time and time again. We appreciate what he said concerning the Administration’s performance in two out of the three key issues that formed the plank of its campaign: Fighting corruption and tackling insurgency. Specifically, the former President said President Buhari must be given credit for his achievement so far in these two areas. We thank him for this.
Apparently, the former President believes that the Administration does not deserve a pass mark in the area of the economy, which is the third of our three-pronged campaign promises.
We have no doubt that in the face of massive challenges in this area, this Administration has availed itself creditably. We believe that Chief Obasanjo, because of his very busy schedule, may not have been fully availed of developments in the government’s efforts to revamp the economy, which was battered by the consequences of over-dependence on a commodity as well as unprecedented pillaging of the treasury.
Today, most of the indices by which an economy is measured are looking up. Permit me to say, however, that Nigeria would not have exited recession through a mere order or if the Administration had not made use of “good Nigerians” who could help.
This Administration is making steady progress in its determined effort to revamp the economy, and the results are showing:
* Foreign Reserves have peaked at $40b, the highest level in about four years, and up from $24 billion just a year ago, even though when we came in, the price of oil had crashed woefully.
* According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC), headline inflation has fallen for 11 consecutive months, standing at 15.37% as at Dec. 2017. This is the lowest inflation rate since Jan 2017, and it has met and surpassed the target set for inflation in the
Administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
* Our determined implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has stopped the hemorrhaging of the treasury. Some 108 billion Naira has been saved from removal of maintenance fees payable to banks, pre-TSA. The nation is being saved 24.7 billion Naira monthly with the full implementation of the TSA.
* The elimination of ghost workers has saved the nation 120 billion Naira
* At about 1.8 billion dollars, the capital inflows in the second quarter of 2017 were almost double the $908 million in the first quarter.
* In the wake of a stable Naira and increased investment inflows, Nigeria’s stock market emerged one of the best-performing in the world, delivering returns in excess of 40 percent.
* Nigeria rose 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, and earned a place on the List of Top 10 Reformers in the world.
* According to Q3 2017 figures, agriculture export is up year-on-year by 25%, solid minerals exports are up year-on-year by 78%, raw materials exports are up 70% year-on-year and manufactured goods exports are up 22% year-on-year.
* Government agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service are reporting highest-ever revenue collection, while JAMB, under the new management appointed by President Buhari in 2016, remitted N7.8 billion to the coffers of the federal government. The total amount remitted by JAMB between 2010 and 2016 was a paltry N51 million!
These positive indices may not have immediately impacted positively on Nigerians, but Nigerians will definitely get a new lease of life a short while from now. This is because the good news from the agricultural sector, which is recording a bumper harvest, will bring down the cost of foodstuffs, especially such staple as rice, and our massive Social Investment Programme will ease the pain of the most vulnerable in the society.
When we assumed office in 2015, some 6 million farmers were involved in rice production. Thanks to the Anchor Borrowers’ programme of this Administration, we have grown that number to over 12 million farmers.
The result is that our rice import from Thailand alone has dropped from 644 metric tonnes to 22,000 MT in just two years. This is phenomenal.
Apart from rice, Nigeria is also doing well in other grains, especially Millet, Sorghum and Maize. We are now the second largest producer of sorghum after the US, the third in millet after India and our breweries are now enjoying local sourcing of those commodities.
For maize, we are producing 10 million tons while we need about 13 million tons for both human and animal nutrition. Nigeria leads the world in the yam and cassava production. We account for 70% of the world’s yam production. In two years, we hope to be the world’s largest exporter of yam! Overall, our ambition is that agriculture should rise from 25% to 40% of GDP, so that we can banish poverty and overcome our economic anxiety.
Our Social Investment Programme is Nigeria’s most ambitious social welfare programme ever. Currently, 5.2 million primary school children in 28,249 schools in 19 states are being fed daily; 200,000 unemployed graduates have enlisted into the N-power Job Scheme, and a quarter of a million loans already distributed to artisans, traders, and farmers.
Finally, our investment in infrastructure is simply unprecedented.
This is because infrastructure is key to faster economic growth and development.
Here is a synopsis of what we have done in this area:
* Power Generation at an all-time high of 7,000mw and all can be transmitted
* RAIL: Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge is on. Lagos-Ibadan sector ready
2019, Kano-Kaduna ready 2019; The entire stretch ready 2021; Negotiations on for Coastal Rail covering 15 cities from Lagos to
Calabar.
* ROAD: 25 major highways being funded with the N100b Sukuk Bond, and all geo-political zones are benefitting equally.
This Administration is not unaware of the enormity of the challenges facing the nation, but we are up to the task. We have taken the bull by the horns, and long-suffering Nigerians will begin to experience a new lease of life as our efforts yield fruits. We will not go into a state of funk for whatever reason.
On the Herders/Farmers’ clashes, this Administration is determined to end the crisis resulting from this once and for all, not minding that fact that the clashes predate us. I will urge Nigerians to have faith in the Administration’s ability to resolve the crisis, and to watch out for concrete measures in this regard.
On whether or not President Muhammadu Buhari should run for another term, it is true that many Nigerians have been calling on the President to run again, while others are opposed to his return.
However, we believe this issue is a distraction for the President at this time. This is because Mr. President spends every waking hours tackling the enormous challenges facing the nation, most of which were bequeathed to his Administration by successive past Administrations.
He is committed to fulfilling the mandate given to him by Nigerians in and that’s where we are right now!
Finally, we have no reason to believe that former President Obasanjo has any motive beyond the well-being of the nation in issuing his Special Press Statement. We have also taken his admonition in good faith, and we thank him most sincerely for taking time off his busy schedule to pen such a long statement.
As president Trump said to Nigerians,calling us name is what our leaders need to work on by making sure every one of you politicians stop stealing and re build our country the way it should .God help you guys to change for good .
This present administration was manufactured, packaged and in propaganda and lies hence we are seeing the reality today.
Sir what people are saying is that PMB should let those Fulani people know that what they are doing is a way of terrorism acts are warn them bitterly before they turn all his effort down to nothing, remember Jonathan regime is because of killing that is why Nigeria change it for them so what is happen now almost killing like Jonathan time so we need solution for it before is too late
Mr president can you kindly tell the truth of you being a one time president of the Fulani herdsmen and currently their adviser. What will you gain taking the life of the innocent people? Knowing fully well that you are just a stone throw to your graveyard. Change for good before the wrought of Allah will descend on you.
Your Comment.My sister,
My advice for our dear president is that he needs more time now to rest and respects what he says about not going to contest the second time. Let him be a man of his own words.God bless Nig.
Your Comment Nigerians :home and abroad with the un-born generations will appreciate Sai Baba better and remember him for the positive contribution he had made if only he will put the welfare of the majority first by allowing a younger,energetic,God-fearing _and intelligent adult try his input come 2019.A word is enough for the wise.
I will say that all this are Jargon’s, the former president olusegun Obasanjo is very correct.
Mr president, u ask us to go for farming because u want our heads to be slotted like cows,
Mr president what are Ur plans with this Fulani Herdsmen killing here and there. is better u act fast, hope u held what happen in Ghana were they are killing Fulani herdsmen. Mr president, I will like u to look into this issue very well before he get worst in the country.
Your CommentaGlory be to our mighty Allah for sustained our great nation. Thank for p m b as our incumbent president really their is achievement in his regime by fighting corruption, insurgency n improve of our economics by agriculture. Hoping more when our mighty Allah will make to re-elected him for second tenured. may God help us. Aamin
remain capacitated, I respect u. hop ALLAH will guide u much. long lyf Mr President.
Your Comment hmm Nigeria is a great country so pray for our leader In other sucid in this present administration regime ,but sorry to our yoroba and BRS and sis you’re the course of our problem in this country.
APC has failed. I want to beg NIGERIANS to join us in the prayer schedule for tomorrow to break all the evil ALTARS controlling Nigeria as a country, POLITICIANS KILLING US FINANCIAL, FULANI HERDSMEN, SECURITY INSTITUTION,JUDICIARY,HEALTH & FAKE PROPHETS and INDIVIDUALLY. Roman 13:10 where is the love of God in this country Nigeria? 2 Chr 7:14 God is ever read to heal our land is repent by loving one another not only people of your religion. if we say we are one let’s look in our foundation and correct it with the fear of GOD ALMIGHTY by dropping our pride and humble ourselves because of GOD.
Your Comment
Nobody should blame Buhari because those who voted him to power should know that age is no longer at his side too that you cannot give what you don’t have.