President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the terrorists of the Boko Haram sect are “fraudulent people”, who have been overwhelmed by his administration since 2015.
Speaking in Owerri, the Imo State capital during his one-day official visit on Tuesday to commission some projects executed by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, President Buhari blamed the Nigerian elite for not thinking hard about Nigeria and commending his government for tackling insurgency in the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s insurgency war has raged on for about 13 years. Hundreds of schoolchildren and other vulnerable persons have been abducted by the insurgents. Lives have also been lost in bomb blasts orchestrated by the Boko Haram terror group, whose faction, the Islamic State in West Africa Province, has launched ferocious attacks in recent times.
He said that his government came into office in May 2015, when Boko Haram terrorists controlled local governments in Borno State, but that has become a thing of the past.
“Look at the problem in the North-East, check with anybody from Borno or Adamawa states, how many local governments were in the hands of the government and how many were in the hands of Boko Haram? Fraudulent people, whoever they are, are fraudulent! But now, go and ask the hardworking governor of Borno State, a very hardworking governor. Federal Government is in charge now,” he said.
Buhari praised his administration for doing “extremely well” and that those who are supposed to commend his administration for these achievements “have refused to speak”.
“Between 1999 and 2015 when we came in, I will like people to check the Central Bank and the NNPC, the average production was 2.1million bpd. Nigeria was earning at this time 2.1million times but look at the state of infrastructure, look at the road…look at the railway, it was virtually killed. Power, we are still struggling.
He lamented that despite earning so much from crude oil sales that his predecessors failed to develop the country’s infrastructure.
“To be frank with you, I blame the Nigerian elite for not thinking hard about our country.
“In terms of time and resources, this administration has done extremely well. I have to say it because those who are supposed to say are not saying it. I don’t know why,” he added.
Buhari had during the visit inaugurated the 36km dual carriageway of Owerri-Orlu road in Imo state and also met with South-East leaders, who reiterated the commitment of the Igbo people to the Nigerian project.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo group, Prof George Obiozor, told President Muhammadu Buhari at the event that Igbo people are seeking justice and fairness and a platform where they can contribute their quota to Nigeria’s development.
“I wish to reiterate and speak on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide both at home and in the diaspora that our people are committed to the Nigerian project. That we desire a country that provides a platform and an opportunity to contribute our utmost best to the growth of our fatherland.
“We seek justice, equity, fairness, and going by our antecedents, we are in every part of Nigeria and therefore claim to be the most federating of all Nigerian,” he said.
GIK/APA