*We are lucky rainy season saves us from harvests crisis – President
*Decries handling of Paris Club refund money by governors
*Take comments of monarchs from 6 zones as your work guide – Sultan tells President
*Promises monarchs’ continued preach of peace, justice, accountability
“We have to digress this much because I would like to convince you that I’m living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people. There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years. I’m appealing to the governors, (that was why we voted money, we borrowed money), please make sure anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees,’’ Buhari said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, alluded to the fact that Nigeria would have been in serious problems if the rainy season was not favourable in 2016 and 2017, cracking a joke that he would have considered running to exile therefore.
President Buhari talking more seriously, however, was delighted that Nigeria was lucky such problems did not come up as, according to him, both consecutive farming years had been good thereby signifying that Allah had answered the fervent prayers of Nigerians for better times.
The President said this at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Monday, while receiving the National Council of Traditional Rulers (NCTR) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
The Nigerian ruler said: “We are lucky that last year and this year, the rainy season is good. If it were not good, I must confide in you that I was considering which country to run to. But God answered the prayers of many Nigerians; the rainy season last year was good, and this year, with the report I’m getting, it is good. We thank God for that. Otherwise, there would have been a lot of problems in this country.”
He said the government knew its limitations, hence its resolve to strengthen institutions as well as the resolve of Nigerians to live and work together.
He blamed the present economic challenges in the country on the mismanagement of public resources over the years.
Buhari, who pledged to continue to pursue programmes and projects that would improve the lots of the masses, said the nation ought to be able to use its population to its advantage, even as he reiterated security, economy and the fight against corruption as the priorities of his administration.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in a purposeful digression, decried the way the Paris Club Refund was spent by some state governors.
The Federal Government had on May 4 released details of the second tranche of Paris Club refund to States totalling N243.795 billion.
The refund is in respect of over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts between 1995-2002.
“We have to digress this much because I would like to convince you that I’m living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people.
“There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years.
“I’m appealing to the governors, (that was why we voted money, we borrowed money), please make sure anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees,’’ he said.
President Buhari thanked the traditional rulers for their continued prayers and support to the government and urged them not to relent in efforts toward ensuring peace and stability in their respective domains.
He enjoined them to continue to educate their people on the need to ensure the continued survival of Nigeria as a geo-political entity.
Earlier in his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III had asked President Buhari to tighten his belt “the more and face the arduous task of leading this country to the Promised Land.”
He said the nation’s traditional rulers would continue to preach peace and justice as well as transparency and accountability.
The Sultan asked Buhari to take the comments by monarchs from the six geopolitical zones as what he needed to work harder for the country.
Some of the monarchs led to the Village spoke on behalf of their respective geopolitical zones.
Speaking on behalf of South West Traditional Rulers, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said: “We will continue to preach to our people that we should continue to foster peace in our country, we will continue to caution our youths against hate speeches. We cannot leave the development of the country to the government, but we have to work hand in hand. We assure you that we will support all your initiatives.”
The Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, said on behalf of Northeast monarchs that Nigerians were happy to have Buhari back home from his London vacation hale and hearty, pledging that, “We will continue to pray for God to strengthen you more and give you the courage to continue to do more for the country.”
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, said the traditional rulers from the Northwest appreciated the President’s commitment to national security.
Gbom Gwom Jos, Jacob Buba Gyang, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers from the Northcentral, said: “The issues of health and security are not issues to play politics but issues we should put heads together so that the country can progress. We commend your efforts on security and agriculture.
“Few days ago just when we thought peace had returned to the Plateau, it was truncated with the attack on Ancha village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, leading to 20 deaths.”
The King of Nembe Kingdom, Edmond Daukoro, who spoke on behalf of the Southsouth monarchs, said: “We know there is tension here and there but as traditional rulers we don’t eat politics. The economy has to be fixed. Coming from the region that produces the mainstay of the economy, even though the country will soon diversify the economy, before we diversify let’s protect the one that we still have. We are pleased to work for peace and stability of the region so that we can all see the benefits of the commodity.”
The Chairman of Southeast Traditional Council, Eberechi Dike, said, “Our heart is full of joy that you are back. You shook our hands when you came in and that shows you believe in one Nigeria. We prayed for you and you are back. We prayed for you because your agenda for Nigeria is good. As your children when we cry it is for you to ask us to stop crying that you will fix whatever is making us cry like the bad roads.”
