NORTHEASTERNERS WANTS NIGERIA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT TO START WITH AREAS AFFECTED BY INSURGENCY

By Blogger

Nigerians in the volatile northeast want the country's new president, General Muhammadu Buhari,  to put the war against terror and rebuilding of the captured territories on the front burner of his administration.

They also want the incoming leader to promote policies that will bring about unity and cohesion amongst the country's citizenry.

Speaking in a statement issued by Borno Elders Forum, a socio political groundwater speaks on behalf of the ordinary Borno people,  said the new president deserved their hearty congratulations on his "cherished and well deserved victory in the just concluded Presidential polls". 

"We see this as a victory for democracy, peace and harmony throughout the country and beyond. It is a victory for the Black race and the masses in general", the statement which was signed by the forum leader,  Ambassador Gaji Galtimari reads.

"The wild jubilation that erupted throughout the country- from Lagos to Baga, Sokoto to Calabar- and indeed worldwide shows that Nigerians do not resort to violence whenever they get what they deserve; they easily express joy and celebrate and embrace one another irrespective of their differences. Nigerians deserve you as their President. They got you and expressed their appreciation by way of spontaneous jubilations.

"Nigerians have gotten the CHANGE they desperately needed. Knowing the calibre of the President elect and his running mate and their anticedents, we will certainly have a strong and purposeful leadership that formulate policies and programmes that will uplift not only Nigeria and Nigerians but by extention Africa and Africans.

"This congratulatory message need to be accompanied by a few words of advice to our in-coming President. We feel this is necessary before he assumes his office in two months time.
Over the past few years, Nigerians have been terribly afflicted by insurgency and high level terrorism. For us in Borno State and indeed the North East it is not an exageration to say that we have been taken back several years interms of all indices of human development. However, we believe it was our destiny.
We therefore urge Mr President to promptly eradicate all forms of insurgency and violence across the country. This should be the starting point. Nothing works without peace. We recently had had cause to plead with the nation to come up with a Marshall Plan for the North East, starting first by setting up a high level Presidential Assessment Committee to take stock of the level of devastation. We need to be quickly rescued, rehabilitated, reconstructed, resettled and re-established.

"Over the few years under refrence, Nigeria has been terribly polarised on sectional, religious and tribal lines. We thank the Al-Mighty Allah that Nigerians remained resolute in their desire for one indivisible, indissoluble and indistructable nation. Indeed, the spirit of Nigeria as our brothers keepers persisted at the level of the masses of our people. Now, Mr President Elect need to cash in on this spirit of Nigerianness demonstrated by the masses of Nigeria throughout the nation. It had come to Nigerians constantly relocating to their states of origins each time there are issues like elections, census, and so on. Nigerians lived in the fear of the unknown even when they desired to live together in peace and harmony. The low turn out of voters during the just concluded elections was a clear indication of that fear.

"Mr President Elect need to quickly address the diversification of sources of revenue generation in the country. We need to massively pay attention to agriculture and solid minerals development. We equally need to accelerate the exploration and exploitation of petroleum deposits, particularly in the Chad Basin and the Benue Trough and other places in Nigeria.

"Mr President Elect has a great task of taking away from the streets the millions of our unemployed youths. Jobs need to be created on daily basis and young people should be encouraged to partake in them. All school age children must be compelled to go to school. Massive investment in Education and Vocational Training is a priority.

"Mr President Elect need a great Cabinet to achieve most of the promises made to Nigerians. We know General Buhari to be a straight-forward, simple, honest, incorruptible and just leader. He has been our Governor in the then North East and also been our Nigerian Head of State. From his anticedents we have no doubt about his ability and resolve to deliver effectively. Yet, He needs a Cabinet of like minds, men and women who would think, dream, work and display transperency like Buhari.

"Nigerians desperately need Electrict Power, Schools, Healthcare, Houses, Roads, Food snd Water Supply and above all Security. Our Armed Forces, the Police and indeed all men and women in uniform need to be protected, motivated, well kitted and their needs of housing, equipment and so on adequately taken care-of. There is also the urgent need for mass recruitment into the Nigeria Police. The current number of Police Personnel are grossly inadequate. We already have mass of manpower readily available across the country. The pride and dignity of our Police and Military must be restored. We need a strong and loyal Military and a well respected and trusted Police. This is the pride of every great nation.
We ones again congratulate the Peoples' General and his Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo, a great clergy man of international repute. We pray for a smooth transition. We equally wish to appreciate the Statesmanship exhibited by President Goodluck Jonathan for not only conceeding defeat but also embracing the President Elect. He will certainly be listed among the World leaders who lived for peace.
May Nigeria prevail and make progress to greater heights.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria".