TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the federal government “will get the economy right by the Grace of God”.

He also said his administration is determined to improve the country’s economic situation by developing infrastructure, supporting agriculture empowering women, fighting corruption and bolstering security.

The president said all these in his Sallah message to Nigerians.

“Fellow Compatriots, as you celebrate the Eid-El-Kabir, I salute your steadfastness in spite of the difficult economic times the country is going through,” Buhari said.

“The lessons of the Eid are piety and sacrifice and, my dear brothers and sisters, you have exhibited these in equal measure.

“The present recession is as a result of cumulative effects of worldwide economic downturn and failure in the past to plan and save for difficult times. It is impossible to separate the present from the past to appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past are affecting everyday life today.

“I assure you that this administration is working round the clock to remove the hardships the country is going through. Rail and road constructions, projects in the housing sector, support for farmers and for small and medium scale industries, youth and women’s empowerment programmes, support for revival of industries are all designed to reinvigorate the economy and enhance living standards of ordinary people.

“We are getting security right. We are stopping corruption in its tracks and we will get the economy right by the Grace of God.”

“I enjoin Muslims to live by the dictates of Islam, to keep good relationships with their Christian brothers and sisters and as patriots to maintain the spirit of the Nigerian nation.

“I wish everyone happy holidays.”

The president’s final sentence on “getting the economy right” mirrors the Sallah message of Bukola Saraki, senate president, who said that “with prayers, we will overcome” the recession.

Fielding questions from state house correspondents on Friday after joining Buhari and other Muslim faithful at the Jum’ah prayer at the state house, Saraki had said: “With prayers, Insha Allah, we will overcome [recession] it,” he said.

“The most important thing is for us to stay together and give the president support and continue to believe in this great country that we all have and be rest assured that we will all weather the storm and scale through together.

“Once again, as a country in this period we will continue to pray. On Sunday, the day of Arafat, we offer prayer for our leaders and president so that we can do what is right; because we feel the pain, we know what the country is going through.

“There is no Nigerian with blood flowing through that will not know that things are difficult now and we pray that with God’s guidance, he will see us through.”