The presidency has said that it is committed to
reinventing a new and prosperous Nigeria through an article by the
senior special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mallam
Garba Shehu, “In Defence of President Buhari: Is This The Change We
Voted For? Yes, It Is!” He said that Buhari’s critics had already
forgotten the ruinous years of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
“When they ask the question, is this the change we voted for, the
critic forgets how far we have come from the scam-tainted years of the
PDP rule. “Unfair criticism of the Buhari administration especially on
account of escalating prices of foodstuff and the liberalization of the
currency exchange needs to be challenged before it overshadows the
commendable job the President has done in fighting terrorism as part of
overall effort to secure the country, reducing corruption and yes,
arresting the economic slide before it sinks the nation.”
“It is a proud moment for many citizens that the country is
being perceived differently now that it has a different kind of leader
creating a positive buss abroad, the kind of sentiment that can lead to
foreign investments when properly capitalized upon. “Wherever they go
these days, in London, Dubai, Beijing, Washington, New York or Tokyo,
Nigerians get the good feeling of being asked the question, how is
President Muhammadu Buhari?” “How many people have given a thought to
the possibility of Nigeria doing something that the combined strength of
Europe and America have failed to do? “There are many today who take
for granted the declared victory over the Boko Haram terrorists,
forgetting the reign of the bomber who made it almost impossible for
regular attendance in Churches and Mosques in many of our cities,
including the Federal Capital City, Abuja. “Victory over Boko Haram has
brought peace not only to Nigeria but to the countries in the Lake Chad
region”.
“When he first emerged as the military Head of State, General
Muhammadu Buhari saw oil price, the mainstay of the nation’s economy
sank to as low eight Dollars a barrel. “He rolled up his sleeves, worked
on diversification strategy of the economy only to be eased out of
power just as they began to take hold.
“On his second coming, this time as a democratically elected
leader, the collapse of oil prices has challenged President Buhari to
quicken efforts towards the diversification of the economy with emphasis
given to agriculture and solid minerals mining. “Every crisis, it is
said, is an opportunity. Not so in Nigeria.
This is a country that inherited massive technological inventions
from Biafra, yet failed to take it forward. We must not lose this
opportunity to diversify the economy and our foreign earnings presented
by the present oil crisis.
“As the country hopes for a bumper harvest this year, government
is taking steps to ensure that no farmer will sell at a loss or fail to
find markets for their harvests. Grain silos are being readied
nationwide to receive excess produce for warehousing to ensure food
security, avert market glut and price collapse. By this, government will
ensure a minimum guaranteed price”, Shehu stressed.