Breaking News: Buhari’s Government replies Obasanjo for first time in 3 years, says his 18-page memo distraction to government

*As El-Rufai keeps his reaction in cooler for ex-President

*FG’s punching reply a setback for PDP, other anti-Buhari elements – Concerned Citizens

By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor

“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,” Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in FG’s reply to Obasanjo’s 18-page memo.

President Muhammadu Buhari for close to three years in power patiently tolerated former President Olusegun Obasanjo, not because he had got no reason to flare up at him but because of respect that he had and still has for his former boss, who made him Federal Minister of Petroleum that gave him the opportunity to build the only Nigeria’s oil refineries till present, during his first coming as military Head of State.

This was reason adduced by The DEFENDER in the course of its efforts to get reactions from government quarters as to why neither the governing party and the government had replied the former President over the 18-page letter that has got even the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the terrorist group, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and particularly other anti-government agents, agog since it was released to press some 48 hours ago.

Having taken the pains, however, to scrutinize the memo through which he, Obasanjo, advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019, the Buhari-led Federal Government, on Wednesday, threw the long letter to shred and threw a punch back at a man many have accused of never seeing anything good in any sitting President other than himself.

The government’s reply to Obasanjo is contained in a statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who wrapped Obasanjo up as being ignorant of Buhari’s achievements and who then needed to be educated and enlightened about them.

In the Minister’s statement, the Federal Government described Obasanjo’s statement as mere distractions, noting that he may not be aware of the damages the immediate past government under Goodluck Jonathan plunged the country into in the last couple of years.

It continued by saying that Buhari’s achievement in office speaks volumes, especially when viewed from economic, security and agricultural perspectives.

According to the Minister, Nigeria wouldn’t have exited recession if not for the ingenuity of the current administration.

The Federal Government’s punching reply to the former “do-or-die” leader came just as Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, indicated that he would not be in a hurry to react to Obasanjo’s position saying he would do that at the appropriate time.

In a statement through his Special Adviser on media, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, the Governor el-Rufai said he was not aware of the letter. 

“We are not aware of any letter written by the former Nigerian leader. But if we grab it we will study it and see whether it affects us or not.

“We will react at the right time,” he stated.

In the meantime, some concerned citizens, speaking under condition of anonymity, have described the timely punching reply by Federal Government to the Obasanjo’s letter as a complete setback for “those among who are known enemies of the former President but who have celebrated him as their hero since he released the mischievous letter on Monday.”

The statement read in full:

Press statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday, 24 Jan. 2018

It reads: 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 the fact that the clashes predate us. we 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 hour 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 2015. 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.