Nigeria Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has said that there is no excuse why Nigerian leaders cannot manage with success, the economy of the country just as leaders in other advanced nations have been doing.
Professor Osinbajo who spoke today while receiving the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on a courtesy visit to his office at the Presidential Villa, emphasised: “good economies are run by men not spirits: men and women like you and I, flesh and blood. There is no reason why our country cannot be well run.”
The Vice President stressed that the key towards the attainment of sound economy and prosperous country is the rule of law.
“We insist that the rule of the law be maintained, that no one is above the law. Nobody is above the law. It is the first rule, the President has committed himself to this. He said it yesterday again in the US, that nobody is above the law.”
Professor Osinbajo emphasised that if somebody is held according to law, the country should support it, adding: “Let us support what is good and right for the country
Osinbajo commended the important role the road transporters play in the nation’s economy, adding that the union is one of the truly national organisations that Nigeria can boast of.
He said that members of the union have provided the most accessible form of transportation for the people.
Professor Osinbajo said: “your role comes with a great deal of responsibility and with tremendous opportunity.”
He said that one of the things President Muhammadu Buhari has said consistently is that “our elites must understand that every privilege comes with responsibility, like maintaining the peace and stability of this nation. Without the peace, none of us can function.”
To this end, the Vice President restated the Buhari administration’s resolve to see the end to Boko Haram insurgency, adding: “I believe we would see the end of Boko Haram, because we hold ourselves responsible to ensure that the insurgency does not continue.”
He advised NURTW members to remain vigilant, because “those who are being used for the attacks, the children, are conveyed from place to place.
“These are children who don’t even know what they are doing. We can’t call them suicide bombers. They don’t know they are bombing themselves.”
The Vice President asked the NURTW delegation to educate the people, drivers, people involved in transportation, to spread the message that they should be careful about carrying goods which they cannot identify, and to report suspicious movement of people to the authorities.”
According to him, government will provide access to members of the union in order to pass on useful information.
The President of the union, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin, commended the government of Buhari for adopting various strategies aimed at addressing corruption and security challenges facing the country.
The NURTW leader said that the union has implicit confidence in the Buhari Presidency’s ability to meet the challenges ahead, and transform Nigeria. [myad]
