The President spoke while playing host to a combination of political and religious leaders resident in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), who came to pay him the traditional Christmas homage at his official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“We need to come together and pull the country out of this problem that we find ourselves. Everybody in the world believes that Nigeria is a lucky country because of its natural resources. Our problem is how to organize ourselves and how to get the right leadership in place,” President Buhari said.
He told the leaders, including the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki that Nigeria has suffered enough of Boko Haram intimidation and blackmail and stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to rescue the country from their grips.
“From the analysis of our party during campaign, our three biggest problems are security, unemployment of youths which make up 65 per cent of the population and 65 per cent of them are unemployed. Also is bribery and corruption. We are not too happy but we are happy that our analysis of the problems have not been challenged, “ he said.
The President noted that the security agencies are doing their best and sought continuous prayers for them. “There can be no development without security, we have to continue to pray for them. We have two million people who are in IDP camps and 70 per cent are women and children, and 70 per cent of them are children. Some of them are orphans, they grew up not knowing their parents, tradition or culture.
“As leaders, we have a weighty responsibility to ensure that infrastructure for the orphans are taken care of. We wake up with the feeling for those children. The most important thing is that they must not be denied education. Schools must be rebuilt. We also thank the former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd) and the G7 led by the U.S. They have been doing their best to help Nigeria to train our military,” he said.
On Boko Haram, Buhari said: “If they can be persuaded, we will use government institutions to persuade them to allow peace to reign.”
In a chat with State House correspondents after the visit, Saraki echoed the President’s feelings about the need to alleviate the sufferings of the majority through good policies.
He said the 2016 budget recently submitted to the National Assembly by the President marked a good beginning of the sign of good times for Nigerians, stating that with faithful implementation of the budget by those charged with the responsibilities, Nigerians would smile at the end of the day.
Saraki assured that the lawmakers would increase their vigilance, through the instrumentality of oversight functions, to ensure that all the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are properly policed to ensure that they do not derail from the letters and spirits of the budget .
“I’m sure that with the right leadership being provided by President Buhari, coupled with our commitments in the National Assembly, I reassure Nigerians that we know the challenges. We know it’s been tough but we are all committed to make a better country, to address the issues of security, economy. I’m hopeful that this time, we will continue to pray for this country that with the new year, we will begin to change for the better,” he said.
On the budget, Saraki said as the National Assembly quickly approved the supplementary budget and medium term expenditure framework, (MTEF), it would also look at the budget in that light.
“It will take a bit longer, but we are conscious of the importance of it. We are conscious of how it’s important for Nigeria and Nigerians so we are not going to waste time. As soon as we come back, we will get down to work and do what we have to do.”
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