“October 1st is a day for joy and celebrations for us
Nigerians, whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in because it is
the day, 55 years ago; we liberated ourselves from the shackles of
colonialism and began our long march to nationhood and to greatness.
“No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop
us from honouring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has
given us. Our Creator has bequeathed to us Numbers – Nigeria is the
ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition arable
land; water; forests; oil and gas; coastline; and solid minerals.
“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. This would have enabled us to achieve
not only more orderly political evolution and integration but also
continuity and economic progress.
“Countries far less endowed have made greater economic progress by greater coherence and unity of purpose.
“Nonetheless, that we have remained together is an
achievement we should all appreciate and try to consolidate. We have
witnessed this year a 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.
“My countrymen and women, every new government inherits
problems. Ours was no 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 neighbouring countries,
marshalled a coalition of armed forces of the five nations to confront
and defeat Boko Haram. I met also the G-7 leaders and other friendly
presidents in an effort to build an international coalition against Boko
Haram.
On power, government officials have held a series of long sessions over several weeks about the best way to improve the nation’s power supply in the safest and most cost-effective way.
“In the meantime, improvement in the power supply is moderately encouraging. By the same token, supply of petrol and kerosene to the public has improved throughout the country. All the early signs are that within months the whole country would begin to feel a change for the better.
“Preliminary steps have been taken to sanitize NNPC and improve its operations so that the inefficiency and corruption could be reduced to a minimum.
“Those of our refineries which can be serviced and brought back into partial production would be enabled to resume operations so that the whole sordid business of exporting crude and importing finished products in dubious transactions could be stopped.
“In addition to NNPC, I have ordered a complete audit of our other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation. Prudent house-keeping is needed now more than ever in view of the sharp decline in world market oil prices. It is a challenge we have to face squarely. But what counts is not so much what accrues but how we manage our resources.
“We have seen in the last few years how huge resources were mismanaged, squandered and wasted. The new APC government is embarking on a clean up, introducing prudence and probity in public financing.
“At an early stage, the federal government addressed the issue of salary arrears in many states, a situation capable of degenerating into social unrest. The APC government stepped in to provide short-term support to the debtor states and enabled them to pay off the backlog and restore the livelihood of millions of Nigerians.
“Fellow Nigerians, there have been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in announcement of ministers. There is no cause to be anxious. Our government set 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.
“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 behaviour 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.
“Happy Independence Celebrations. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
