Presidency takes on Tunde Bakare over attacks on Buhari, educates him on how administration is doing well
*Says Latter-Raign Church leader may be acting a script
The presidential aide, however, said claims by the clergyman that Nigeria is still depending on oil as its major source of revenue are untrue, saying they are mere opinions.
By the time the mandate ends and it needs to be renewed, the onus will be on the electorate whether to give a fresh mandate or not to give. For me, as far as I know, as far as I see, as we move on; I think the government is doing what it promised to do,” Femi Adesina insisted.
The Presidency has responded to the allegations of Pentecostal Pastor Tunde Bakare that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has failed to fulfill its promise to Nigerians.
Contrary to the claims, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, believes the Federal Government is on course.
“I believe that this government is on course, is doing what it has promised to do,” he said during his appearance on Channels Television’s political programme, Sunday Politics.
Reacting to comments that the Federal Government is under any kind of pressure, Adesina said, “If you are talking of performance, yes every government must be under pressure.”
“Because it must be seen to fulfill its promises, sure government will be under pressure on that because it must perform. But then; pressure in terms of will they vote for us, will they not vote for us? I don’t think so.
“By the time the mandate ends and it needs to be renewed, the onus will be on the electorate whether to give a fresh mandate or not to give. For me, as far as I know, as far as I see, as we move on; I think the government is doing what it promised to do,” he insisted.
The reaction came hours after Pastor Bakare faulted the government in the areas of security, economy, and anti-corruption fight while addressing a congregation at the Latter Rain Assembly in Lagos.
The presidential aide, however, said claims by the clergyman that Nigeria is still depending on oil as its major source of revenue are untrue, saying they are mere opinions.
He said: “Whether it’s his own opinion or he’s reading something somebody has written, there are always opinions and you can’t say that opinion is the opinion.
“He (Bakare) talked about diversification of the economy – a lot of people will not agree with him that oil is still the only thing driving the Nigerian economy; it’s not true.
“Oil still is very important to us, oil led Nigeria recession when it crashed but it was not only oil that brought Nigeria out of recession. Agriculture contributed in large part, solid minerals contributed in large part, even manufacturing is climbing up in Nigeria.”
On Bakare’s unemployment figures, the President’s spokesman said, “We know there is huge unemployment in the land but then, the statistics reeled out (by Mr Bakare) do not agree with what the National Bureau of Statistics has given.”
“The NBS said last year, four million jobs were lost and that the cumulative between 2015 and now is about seven million. But you had the Minister of Agriculture last week saying that in the agricultural sector alone, six million jobs have been created.
“And you heard the Minister of Labour and Employment saying eight million jobs have been created. So, these figures can be thrown all around but they don’t constitute things cast in concrete,” he maintained.
