2019: Buhari, ASUU clash on state of the nation

For President Muhammadu Buhari 2019 was a very successful year for the nation, as he thanked Nigerians for believing in him and supporting his administration to take the country to the Next Level.

However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said contrary to the president’s position, life was increasingly becoming unbearable for Nigerians.

Speaking Wednesday in Abuja while receiving residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the minister, Muhammad Bello, during the traditional Christmas Day homage, the president said: “We thank God. It has been a very successful year, relative to the composition of this country, both politically and ethnically.”

He told the delegation comprising religious, traditional and political leaders as well top civil servants and journalists: ‘‘You are our eyes and ears, we have to listen to you and I hope you are encouraging your constituencies that this leadership means well and is concerned about them.”

He said his administration would continue to do the utmost best to effectively utilise national resources to rebuild the country, recounting that the extreme infrastructure deficit inherited by his administration was worsened by the volatility in the oil market and the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

He, however, expressed confidence that in the last four years the federal government had recorded sustainable progress in mobilising resources to rebuild infrastructure across the country.

“This administration sincerely believes that if you get infrastructure right, most Nigerians will mind their own businesses. They may not even care who is in government. But when you deny them infrastructural facilities then there is nothing they can do.

“But I can assure you that I thank Nigerians very much from the bottom of my heart. When I travelled to all the 36 states before the elections, what I personally observed and the number of Nigerians that turned up in every state to see and listen to me, are more than what anybody can pay or force. What I saw made me believe that the majority of Nigerians understand and sympathise with me.”

The president used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that he was conscious of his duty as president. “I swore to hold this office in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God willing, I will follow the system diligently to the end of my term and I hope history will be kind to me and Nigerians.”

In his remarks, the host minister said the Christmas Day homage presented an opportunity for FCT residents to thank the president for his unwavering support.

Acknowledging the support of security agencies in the country, Bello said FCT had enjoyed relative peace because of their collaboration.

He promised that his administration would continue to work hard to make the city safe, secure and open to all Nigerians.

ASUU 

Meanwhile, National President of ASUU, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi Wednesday said life was fast becoming unbearable for the Nigerian masses.

Professor Ogunyemi, who raised the alarm in Ibadan, Oyo state, in his Christmas message to ASUU members, declared that country’s poor and downtrodden had nothing to celebrate their Christmas.

He said it was unfortunate that the few rich continued to enrich themselves at the expense of the majority, adding that the worsening state of the Nigerian economy had hit the poor masses below the belt and made the yuletide period meaningless.

Ogunyemi further said the yuletide “is more meaningful when the ordinary Nigerians have access to qualitative education, healthcare and other good things of life.”

“Comrades and compatriots, as we join the rest of the world for the Christmas and New Year holidays, let’s look back with thanksgiving and prepare for the challenges of the future. The season of love reminds us of our obligations to the poor and downtrodden. Its celebration is more meaningful when the ordinary Nigerians have access to qualitative education, healthcare, and other good things of life. Happy holidays, as the struggle continues”, he said.

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