President Muhammadu Buhari has advised Nigerians to join in the change mantra which his government has brought for the country to attain genuine progress.
In a nation-wide radio and television broadcast today to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence anniversary, President Buhari asked Nigerians to change in the all aspects of their lives and in every place they found themselves.
“I would like to end my address this morning on our agenda for CHANGE. Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring change about.
“We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behavior in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.”
The President regretted that in the last few years, huge resources of the country were mismanaged, squandered and wasted.
“The new APC government is embarking on a clean up, introducing prudence and probity in public financing.”
He said that at an early stage, the federal government addressed the issue of salary arrears in many states, a situation which he said, was capable of degenerating into social unrest.
The APC government, he added, stepped in to provide short-term support to the owing states and enabled them to pay off the backlog and restore the livelihood of millions of Nigerians.
On the delay in announcing the names of ministers, Buhari said that there is no cause to be anxious, saying that his government was out to do things methodically and properly.
“We received the handing over notes from the outgoing government only four days before taking over. Consequently, the Joda Transition Committee submitted its Report on the reorganization of Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes. It would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not finalized the number of ministries to optimally carry the burden of governance.
“Anyway, the wait is over. The first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the senate. Subsequent lists will be forwarded in due course. Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about.” [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has noted that Nigeria has all the attributes of a great nation but for the lack of unity of purpose and cohesion.
“We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose.”
The President, who addressed the nation this morning via radio and television broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence anniversary said that unity of purpose would have enabled the country to achieve not only more orderly political evolution and integration but also continuity and economic progress.
He noted that God, in his infinite mercy, endowed Nigeria, besides being the ninth most populated country on the planet, with arable land, water, forests, oil and gas as well as coastline and solid minerals.
“Countries far less endowed have made greater economic progress by greater coherence and unity of purpose.”
On the Independence celebration, President Buhari said that no temporary problems or passing challenges should stop the citizens from honoring this day, adding: “that we have remained together is an achievement we should all appreciate and try to consolidate. We have witnessed this year a sea change in our democratic development. The fact that an opposition party replaced an entrenched government in a free and fair election is indicative of the deeper roots of our democratic system. “Whatever one’s views are, Nigerians must thank former President Jonathan for not digging-in in the face of defeat and thereby saving the country untold consequences.
“As I said in my inaugural speech, I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view to join me in working for the nation.
The President maintained that every new government used to inherit problems and that his was not different.
“But what Nigerians want are solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of problems inherited. Accordingly, after consultations with the Vice President, senior party leaders and other senior stakeholders, I quickly got down to work on the immediate, medium-term and long-term problems which we must solve if we are to maintain the confidence which Nigerians so generously bestowed on us in the March elections and since then.
“As you know, I toured the neighboring countries, marshal a coalition of armed forces of the five nations to confront and defeat Boko Haram. I met also the G7 leaders and other friendly presidents in an effort to build an international coalition against Boko Haram. Our gallant armed forces under new leadership have taken the battle to the insurgents, and severely weakened their logistical and infrastructural capabilities. Boko Haram are being scattered and are on the run.
“That they are resorting to shameless attacks on soft targets such as I.D.P. camps is indicative of their cowardice and desperation. I have instructed security and local authorities to tighten vigilance in vulnerable places.”
On power, President Buhari recalled the efforts that have been made so far, saying that there has been improvement in the power supply. He added that supply of petrol and kerosene to the public has also improved throughout the country and that there are early signs that within months, the whole country would begin to feel a change for the better. [myad]

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has stated that by December 2015, Boko Haram would be completely wiped out of the country even as soldiers have ambushed the insurgents who were crossing from the Sambisa Forest into Iza.

The army boss gave this assurance in a statement issued by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, in Abuja today, saying that Buratai made the promise during a routine operational visit to frontline troops in parts of the Northeast.

“I want to reassure Nigerians that Nigerian Army is ever determined to succeed in meeting up with the set deadline of defeating Boko Haram terrorists by the end of this year,” it said.

The statement said that the Army chief had forfeited the public holidays to embark on operational and morale boosting trips to troops under Nigerian 3 Division and 7 Division areas of responsibility.

It said that Buratai’s first port of call was Headquarters, 33 Artillery Brigade, Shadawanka Barracks, Bauchi, where he addressed troops on the on-going operations.

The Army chief also visited the 301 Artillery Regiment, Gombe and Biu where he visited two units; 231 Tank Battalion and 331 Artillery Regiment in Aboge Largema Military Cantonment.

Buratai was accompanied on the visit by some Principal Staff Officers at the Army Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Maj.-Gen. H.A. Umaru and other Commanders.

The report reaching us indicated that at the end of the encounter with soldiers in the Sambisa Forest,, two of the terrorists were killed while others abandoned their supplies and fled.

One general purpose machine gun and one AK47 rifle were captured. Other items abandoned by the terrorists were three bicycles, provisions including maggi, potash, peanut and onions. [myad]

There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari will announce the names of his ministers tomorrow, October 1^st even as he has, today, formally sent the list to the Senate for screening.

The list was delivered to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki today by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang.

With the submission of the list ,President Buhari has kept his pledge to unveil his cabinet by September.

There had been anxiety earlier in the day as the Senate adjourned without a mention of the nominees. A prominent senator had reported assured some journalists that there were still a few hours left before the end of September, a clear hint that the Senate leadership was hoping to receive the list no matter how later today. [myad]