TheCable

The federal government says former President Olusegun Obasanjo may have been too busy to keep track of the development recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

It said this in reply to a special statement issued by Obasanjo, down-scoring the government.

Obasanjo had advised Buhari against seeking re-election in 2019, while accusing him of nepotism, blame-game and poor governance.

Replying via a statement, Lai Mohammed, minister of information, disagreed with Obasanjo’s position.

Below are the highlights of the federal government’s reply to Obasanjo’s “letter-bomb”.

OBASANJO MEANS WELL

Mohammed said he believes that Obasanjo meant well for the nation by drafting the letter.

He described the former president as a patriot, who has not failed to prove it.

“We have read the press statement by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the State of the Nation,” Mohammed said.

“For the record, Chief Obasanjo is a patriot, and he has proven this time and time again.

“We have no reason to believe that former President Obasanjo has any motive beyond the well-being of the nation in issuing his Special Press Statement.”

TOO BUSY TO KEEP TRACK OF DEVELOPMENT

Mohammed however said owing to Obasanjo’s busy schedule, he might have missed out on the development and achievements of the administration.

“Chief Obasanjo, because of his very busy schedule, may not have been fully availed of developments in the government’s efforts to revamp the economy, which was battered by the consequences of over-dependence on a commodity as well as unprecedented pillaging of the treasury,” he said.

“Today, most of the indices by which an economy is measured are looking up.

“Permit me to say, however, that Nigeria would not have exited recession through a mere order or if the Administration had not made use of ”good Nigerians” who could help.”

LIST OF BUHARI’S ACHIEVEMENTS

In case Obasanjo missed out on the track records of the administration, Mohammed took time to list them.

Muhammed said the efforts of the federal government to revamp the economy is evident in increase in foreign reserve, drop in inflation, elimination of ghost workers, Nigeria’s improvement in ease of doing business.

He further listed the achievements to include daily feeding of 5.2 million children, empowerment of 200,000 unemployed graduates, pulling the country out of recession, boosting of the agricultural sector.

“This Administration is making steady progress in its determined effort to revamp the economy, and the results are showing,” he said.

“Foreign Reserves have peaked at $40b, the highest level in about four years.

“The nation is being saved 24.7 billion Naira monthly with the full implementation of the TSA.

“Nigeria rose 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, and earned a place on the List of Top 10 Reformers in the
world.

“Power Generation at an all-time high of 7,000mw and all can be transmitted.

“RAIL: Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge is on. Lagos-Ibadan sector ready 2019, Kano-Kaduna ready 2019; The entire stretch ready 2021; Negotiations on for Coastal Rail covering 15 cities from Lagos to Calabar.

“ROAD: 25 major highways being funded with the N100b Sukuk Bond, and all geo-political zones are benefitting equally.

“This Administration is not unaware of the enormity of the challenges facing the nation, but we are up to the task.

“We have taken the bull by the horns, and long-suffering Nigerians will begin to experience a new lease of life as our efforts yield fruits. We will not go into a state of funk for whatever reason.

‘DISTRACTING BUHARI’

According to Mohammed, discussions on whether Buhari should seek re-election or not is distracting the president, whom he said “spends every waking hours tackling the enormous challenges facing the nation.”

Mohammed said some people have called on Buhari to run for presidency in 2019, while others, like Obasanjo, felt otherwise.

He said, however, Buhari is more interested in fulfilling the mandate given to him by Nigerians.

“On whether or not President Muhammadu Buhari should run for another term, it is true that many Nigerians have been calling on the President to run again, while others are opposed to his return.

“However, we believe this issue is a distraction for the President at this time.

“This is because Mr. President spends every waking hours tackling the enormous challenges facing the nation, most of which were bequeathed to his Administration by successive past Administrations.

“He is committed to fulfilling the mandate given to him by Nigerians in 2015. And that’s where we are right now!”

NIGERIANS TO GET BETTER LIFE SOON

After listing the achievements of the administration, Mohammed said Nigerians “will definitely get a new lease of life” soon.

“These positive indices may not have immediately impacted positively on Nigerians, but Nigerians will definitely get a new lease of life a short while from now,” he said.

“This is because the good news from the agricultural sector, which is recording a bumper harvest, will bring down the cost of foodstuffs, especially such staple as rice, and our massive Social Investment Programme will ease the pain of the most vulnerable in the society.”

‘SUCH LONG STATEMENT’ RECEIVED IN GOOD FAITH

Having noted that Obasanjo wrote the letter in good will, the presidency says it received the letter in good faith.

“We have also taken his admonition in good faith, and we thank him most sincerely for taking time off his busy schedule to pen such a long statement,” Mohammed said.