Buhari Appeals to Nigerians for Time to Deliver on Promises

The president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has appealed to Nigerians not to expect instant miracles from his government to fix all the problems facing the country, but to be patient and supportive, saying he will need enough time to address the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east and other challenges confronting the nation.

Buhari, who made this appeal in Kaduna at the weekend when he received a delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members from Bauchi State led by the state governor-elect, said the change which Nigerians expect from his incoming administration would not be realised overnight.

He hinged his reason on the fact that governing Nigeria will be difficult for him because of the magnitude of the problems on ground.

The president-elect, according to Channels Television, further explained that governing Nigeria would be seriously difficult because of what he termed colossal rape of its economy and leadership deficit.

He, however, promised that the incoming  government will do its best to fix things in the right perspective and therefore appealed for support of all Nigerians to his administration.

Buhari thanked the people of Bauchi and Nigerians for voting massively  for APC during the last presidential and National Assembly elections, and urged them to be vigilant and  protect themselves from being attacked by insurgents.
On their part, the Bauchi State governor-elect, Mohammed Abubakar, other elected state and National Assembly members described Buhari as  somebody who is genuinely interested in the peace and progress of the country.

They expressed hope that Nigeria would be better under his leadership.
The  governor-elect also disclosed that he would not waste government resources to probe the outgoing  administration in the state, but will  seek better ways of ensuring that all stolen money are recovered for the development of the state.

Meanwhile, former Chairman of Lagos State chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and Presiding Bishop of Elshaddai Bible Church, Bishop Olanrewaju Obembe, has urged Buhari not to allow himself to be distracted from pursuing the goal of building a virile country by praise singers and charlatans who are only interested in their selfish ends.

Obembe in a statement noted that Buhari has suddenly found a coterie of friends who mill around him giving spurious advice and insisting that he should go on vendetta mission. This, according to him, “will only drag the wheel of progress in Nigeria backward.”

He appealed to Buhari not to fall into the temptation of going after those who served in the government of President Goodluck Jonathan without recourse to due process, saying service to Nigeria should not be criminalised

He said: “I have read some unfortunate commentaries asking that people like Allison Madueke and Okonjo-Iweala should be made to face the law. While those who are making such calls have a right to do so, I think Buhari should not spend his time going after perceived enemies of the state without recourse to due process.”

He reasoned that the preoccupation of the incoming government should be how to fix Nigeria’s most urgent needs which is power and strengthening the nation’s economy.

While noting that President Jonathan has been magnanimous in conceding defeat, he said: “I believe Buhari should reciprocate this good gesture by being magnanimous in victory. He should avoid the temptation of exclusivity in power rather he should stretch forth a hand of fellowship to those in opposition.”

Obembe noted further that rather than throw away all the works of Jonathan, Buhari should look at them dispassionately and continue with the policies that are good while also retaining officials who have been outstanding in the Jonathan government if it is feasible. Personally, the Minister of Agriculture has distinguished himself in the government of Jonathan. A person like that should be encouraged by continuing with his policies in that sector of the economy.”