Buhari eulogises Tinubu, tells Nigerians to expect more action
Govs, monarchs, others honour ex-Lagos Gov at 64
In an apparent acknowledgement of the hardship being faced by Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari has concretely assured that his administration will, in the next few months, start taking more pragmatic actions aimed at improving the nation’s economy and boosting the living condition of the citizens. Buhari gave the assurance on Tuesday while speaking at the 8th colloquium of the former Lagos State governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Abuja.
President Buhari, at the colourful event held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, pointedly declared that his administration’s desire was to invest heavily in human capital development as a step towards reducing the high level poverty in the land. He declared that diversifying the nation’s economy can no longer be a slogan considering the theme of the colloquium which is “Agriculture: action, work, revolution”. The President disclosed that “in the coming months, Nigerians will see much more actions, as government will continue to invest substantially in human capital development and this is just the beginning.” President Buhari welcomed more companies that are willing to invest in the country.
He said: “We are going to hold ourselves accountable. We will measure results. “There will always be some scepticism, some have even become disorientated and impatient enough to think that barriers are insurmountable. Anyone who claims great change is impossible can only look as an ordinary success.” Continuing, the President said: “Despite the odds, we have incredible examples of entrepreneurs who have set up processing factories, green house farming and commercial up taking systems. “We can achieve more with partnership that link up and scale up our respective efforts.
“I am declaring that we need a new approach that challenges more states and local governments, more organisations, companies and non-governmental organisations and individuals, some of the younger people who are here to step up and play a role because government cannot and should not do it alone. There has to be all hands on deck.” He pointed out that the opportunities that the government sees in the agriculture value chain were enormous. The President poured encomium on Tinubu, saying that he possesses some unique qualities that have contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria.
His words: “There are very few patriots alive today that can match the qualities of Tinubu in his contribution to national growth”. He commended the organisers of the Tinubu Colloquium for the choice of the theme of the event which focused on improving agriculture from primary production, storage, processing to transportation. The President said: “We intend to organise an efficient market infrastructure that will make agriculture viable for investors. We are providing an enabling environment so as to assure uncertainty and predictability for the private sector. “We intend to also ensure that the market is fair and worth to transform small holder farmers from beggars to businessmen.”
President Buhari also assured that government would speed up actions that will improve food production techniques because technology will play a huge role in better seeds, better harvest, weather forecast and predictable market prices. “Furthermore, we are going to keep focusing on improved nutrition for children. We know the effects of hunger and poor nutrition can last a life time. Children are thrown out of school to earn a living,” the President said. The event, which was organised to mark Asiwaju Tinubu’s 64th birthday anniversary, is an annual event. The ceremony was attended by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, the wife of the former Lagos State Governor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, virtually all the APC Governors, Ministers and Traditional Rulers.
Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was also in attendance. Some of the governors in attendance were Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, Zamfara State; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Osun; Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun; Abubakar Bindow, Adamawa; Rochas Okorocha, Imo; Prof. Ben Ayade, Cross River, (PDP); Muhammed Abubakar, Bauchi; Mr Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos; Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna; Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo; Yahaya Bello, Kogi; the Governor of Niger State as well as the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, among others. Prominent traditional rulers in attendance included the Ooni of Ife, the Oba of Lagos and some Emirs from the North. The Secretary to the Government of the federation and some other top government officials also graced the occasion.
