Buhari’s Independence Speech ‘Not An Attack On Ohanaeze, S’East Govs’ – Presidency

The presidency has said the Independence Day speech delivered by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 1 was not an attack on the Ohanaeze or South East governors.

This was according to Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who said this after President Buhari blamed recent agitations for Biafra on calls for restructuring by leaders from the region.

Shehu said all Buhari did was to “call out the regional leaders to their responsibilities” and not a desertion of his duties to them.

“President Buhari was not abdicating his responsibilities. He didn’t request any political leader to do anything seminal or out of the box.

“All he says is, talk to your out-of-the-line-youth so that we have some peace. Igbo leaders need not to be on the defensive for the misbehaviour of the IPOB which they rightly condemned.

“President Buhari was simply calling out the regional leaders to their responsibilities, making them aware of the crucial role they can play.

“This should not be seen as an attack on the Ohanaeze or on any other regional leaders,” said the presidential aide.

Reacting to the criticisms of Buhari’s Independence Day speech, Shehu said:

“As for those critics who are used to being settled by successive governments, with false claims to being so-called conscience of society popping out from the cupboard on and off to drive the country towards religious and ethnic polarization, they have no other motive but to rock the boat of good governance,” he said.

Speaking further on Buhari`s achievements, the presidential aide said:

“We inherited a country in tatters- its economy, its security and its social relations. President Buhari deserves credit for rebuilding what has been destroyed.

“If anyone thinks this a failure, let them talk to those millions of farmers we have empowered to create riches for themselves and the nation, for whom fertilizer is available everywhere at the regulated price of N5,500 instead of N13,800, a year ago.

“Let them ask the manufacturers and importers of goods who bought the Dollar at N525:00 and are happy that it is down to N360:00 and still improving.

“Let them go back and read the accomplishments highlighted in the speech, to see the advancements in security, agriculture, the ease of doing business and anti-corruption, to mention a few.”