TheCable

Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), says those wishing President Muhammadu Buhari dead are responsible for the bad state of the economy.

Addressing a pro-Buhari support group at the Unity Fountain in Abuja on Tuesday, Lawal said the government understood the challenges Nigerians were going through.

He said Buhari did not anticipate the current problems, but that the government is on top of the situation.

“We want to assure you that this government is on top of the situation. As much as we understand the challenges that we are facing, there is no cure without medicine. It is for no reason that quinine is very bitter, but after you have taken it, you get well,” he said.

“Baba Buhari didn’t anticipate the problem that we are in. I’m sure you are all aware. The people who caused this problem are the ones challenging the government. I tell you that they will fail in the name of God. In fact, they have failed. You are aware of the economy that the president inherited, the economy in which revenue has virtually collapsed.

“The infrastructure is no where to be seen. The roads were dilapidated. The schools were dilapidated. The hospitals were abandoned. The people who caused it are not worried at all. Shamelessly, they accused the president of not performing. And in fact, some of them wished him dead. But I can assure you that by the grace of God, he will outlive all of them. I assure you that by the grace of God, in the next one year, Nigeria will have a booming economy.”

On his part, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, commended the group for the solidarity shown to the Buhari administration.

“You people put this government in place and you want to show support for what the government is doing, nobody has a problem with this,” he said.

“So, we welcome your demonstration, we welcome your support because this us what will keep the government strong.

“The war against corruption has enemies, very powerful enemies. Enemies who have resources, the kind of monies that even this government doesn’t have. So, we need popular support like your own, otherwise the war against corruption will be defeated.”