TheCable

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, on Sunday said President Muhammadu Buhari has earned the respect and appreciation of global leaders, and this should be a source of hope and pride to Nigerians.

According to a statement he released in Lagos on Sunday, Buhari received “ringing global endorsement” from world leaders at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in the US.

He said it was delightful to hear from world leaders that Buhari’s determined and committed leadership was yielding fruits.

He appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the president, saying his committed leadership and integrity had given the country a positive image in the comity of nations.

“The global community appreciated the giant strides that have been made by President Buhari’s administration in fighting terrorism and corruption, as well as in deftly managing the nation’s economy at a time of global economic downturn,” Lai said.

“This is an indication that the administration is on course in its quest to ensure a better life for the people.”

“In spite of the attempts by naysayers to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians, the achievements of the administration in the areas of economy, security and the fight against corruption have not gone unnoticed globally.

“World leaders, including US President Barrack Obama; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, French President Francois Hollande and Switzerland’s President Johann Schneider-Ammann, all took turns to extol President Buhari’s leadership.

“This should be a source of hope and pride to Nigerians, who have borne the brunt of the difficulties associated with the current economic downturn as well as the country’s negative global image in the past.”

He thanked Nigerians for their perseverance and support, saying the tough times would not last.

He said that the fact that the president was able to highlight and seek a global rallying point on critical issues during his trip, would have a positive effect on the country.

”The president sent a clear and direct message to world leaders on  such issues as poverty, climate change, terrorism, plight of IDPs
arising from Boko Haram activities,” he added.

“He also passed the message on diversification of the economy and the creation of enabling environment for Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria.

“The timing of the president’s message and the platform in which he highlighted those issues could not have been more apt. It will undoubtedly complement the administration’s efforts at tackling those key issues.”