TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has accused the Nigerian elite of harassing his government.

Buhari made the claim on Saturday after he revalidated his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his constituency in Daura, Katsina state.

The president, who earlier called on Nigerians, especially the elite to be fair in their criticism of his administration, said they (elite) “are not interested in rating the competence” of his administration despite its efforts.

He said compared to previous administrations, his government has achieved more success with limited resources.

He asked what his predecessors did with the money the country made when oil prices were still high.

“The problem is that I will like especially the elites to please be reflective. When we came, where we were, the resources available from them and the condition of the infrastructure. I was contrived to go over it several times to tell Nigerians that between 1999 and 2014, let them check with the NNPC, let them check with the governor of Central Bank, production was 2.4 million barrels per day and the average cost was $100 per barrel. So for a year’s daily production, Nigeria would earn having 2.4×100 dollars every day. But look at the condition of infrastructure, you know this better than I do,” Buhari said.

“I know I went to every local government of the country in my three consecutive attempts to become the President. You know the road more than I do. You know the condition of the rail, the railway is dead. Now look at it everywhere we go, what did they do with all these monies?

“When we took over the administration, production went down to about half a million barrels per day, the price collapsed. We had to do what is called a bailout, wherever we got the money from. Upon all the money from 1999 to 2014 we gave out money from the Centre to pay salaries. No, Nigerian elites are not interested in rating the competence but they are interested in harassing us with all efforts we are making.”

The President asked the APC leaders in charge of their constituencies to make efforts to convince the elite to give his administration “the due relevance and respect we deserve that we are working so hard with limited resources”.