TheCable

Waheed Odusile, national president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), says President Muhammadu Buhari has “succeeded where his predecessors failed”.

Speaking on Saturday while reviewing the one-year administration of the APC-led government, Odusile lauded the anti-graft war of the current administration, saying the hitherto “untouchables” have not been spared.

On security, he commended the president for the success so far achieved in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east.

“It is heart-warming that conversely, the Buhari administration has succeeded where its predecessors have failed,” he said.

“It has succeeded in bringing the terrorists group to its near extinction through enhanced military capabilities and international and regional cooperation.

“Not only has it recovered all seized Nigerian territories from the insurgents, some of the ravaged communities are being rebuilt and the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are returning.

“For this cause, many high ranking individuals, who hitherto could be considered untouchables, are having their days in court.

“Whooping sums of money in various currencies have been recovered from the privileged few, who in time past helped themselves to our common heritance.

“The money is much, no doubt, but we don’t know how much yet.”

He advised the president to disclose the amount of money recovered so far, and thereafter use it to fund social infrastructural development for the benefit of Nigerians.

Odusile noted that the president had left no one in doubt about his determination to enthrone probity and accountability in the management of the resources through the treasury single account (TSA).

He also advised him to make the fight against corruption across board.

“To some, the war against corruption under the present dispensation seem to be tilted and targeted at personalities within the opposition parties, leaving them to wonder whether the ruling party is made up of saints,” he said.

He also called on the president to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the citizens, encouraging him to quickly address the “untold hardship” being faced by Nigerians.

“Mr. President should act quickly and do the needful in the areas that will positively impact Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said.

“Although the signs are good, the speed of delivery is slow, Nigerians are losing patience.

“The administration should remember that Nigerians massively voted for the APC, based on the promise that it would bring a change of fortune for them.

“Nigerians have patiently waited to experience the positive change they expect from the APC-led federal government.”

He said one of the ways the president could achieve result was to give his cabinet members the “latitude to perform their assigned responsibilities”.