Governing Nigeria is not a joke said Buhari

ABUJA-President Mohammadu Buhari has
cried out, saying that leading the people of
Nigeria was a huge task.

In a manner that suggested that the weight
of the present challenges facing the
Nigerian State was telling on his leadership,
the president urged his Ministers and
indeed, Nigerians to pray for the country.
He however said that instilling patriotic spirit
in the people for the benefit of especially
posterity was a task that must be done.
He noted the month of Ramadan as a
special time when God listened and
answered prayers of the faithful.
The President spoke Tuesday night while
breaking fast with members of the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) who were mainly
his Ministers at the presidential banquet hall
of the Aso Villa, Abuja.
He said: "It strengthens our resolve to build
our country to make it stronger and to make
sure that the incoming generations are
sufficiently motivated to be patriotic.
"It is no news that we are the biggest
country in Africa, we are the economy
engine of Africa, which are true by the way.
"But, we must always be patriotic in our
dealings with others.
"This (Ramadan) month of prayers and
service to God, let us keep on these prayers
all the times, believing that God in His
infinite mercy will listen to our prayers, give
us peace, security and better the economy
once more, so that we can quickly rebuild
and even do more for the country.
"Let me assure that the time of Ramadan is
making us more conscious of what leaders
at every level ought to do, and leading the
people is not a joke. It means accepting
responsibilities for good or wrong,’’ he said.
Recalling the economic challenges and the
agitations for the sovereign state of Biafra,
President Buhari reminded the people of the
Nigerian Civil war that claimed over 2 million
lives.
"We need a lot of prayer. Certainly, with the
nation’s economy going down. Haven’t
developed the agriculture, we are still trying
to talk on those who will come and develop
the solid mineral for us.
"The militants in their various homes. We
need to reflect very seriously on what
happened between 1967 and 1970 where
about two millions Nigerians lost their lives.
"And at that time, as young military officers,
you hardly heard of anything about
petroleum or whatever money you got from
it.
"Look at what Gen. Gowon said; `To keep
Nigeria one is a task that must be done’ and
every soldier whether he has been to school
or not knew what the General meant.
"But, we were quarreling with our brothers,
we were not fighting an enemy and then
somebody is saying that once again he
wants Biafra.
"I think this is because he was not born
when there was Biafra. We have to reflect
on the historical antecedent to appreciate
what is before us now and what we intend
to leave for our children and our grand
children,’’ he warned.
President Buhari thanked the ministers and
other members of the cabinet who have
identified with his government despite all
odds.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke on
behalf of members of the FEC, expressed
gratitude to the President for inviting them
to break the fast with him.