PRESS STATEMENT NEW YEAR MESSAGE BY MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCON Message of Hope in a season of despair Great Nigerians, the announcement made by the Presidency and its agencies in the last one month has put many Nigerians in sadness. Electricity shall cost more. The devaluation of the naira means the price of goods and services shall rise. Essential goods are being removed from the reach of the poor. Indeed, the Presidency has declared a regime of austerity that will be executed in 2015. To quote the press reports, the President himself has declared that Year 2015 shall be tough on our people. Against this season of despair foisted on our people, I bring to you, a New Year Message of hope and optimism. I share the anxiety of the middle class and the poor who have borne the brunt of the policies of this government for so long with increasing burden. I share the fear of the unemployed whose hopes for new jobs in the new year is being dashed because companies will cut jobs to escape inflationary spirals. I share the concerns of the manufacturers whose import-dominated production will be challenged by the austerity measures. In particular, our leaders should eschew the cynical habit of wishing Nigerians a happy New Year when their actions are calculated to undermine the happiness of Nigerians. It is impossible for the vast majority of Nigerians to enjoy happiness given the scale of corruption, impunity and indiscipline that currently incapacitates the Nigerian state from fulfilling its obligations to the Nigerian people. It is only the handful of Nigerians who have access to the corridors of power and benefit from the monumental graft that characterises governance in the country today that can enjoy their perverse and ultimately futile form of happiness. Nigerians must be the sole object and focus of government. Man must be the pivot around which governance revolves. The more the potentials of citizens are maximised within any nation, the higher will be the prospects of that nation for attaining greatness. The first great task facing Nigeria today, therefore, is to put in place a government that can guarantee the safety and security of Nigerians throughout the length and breadth of our country. This is because Nigerians must first of all be alive, safe and free from fear before they can exercise and utilise their talents for the benefit of their nation. I declare, that, collectively, we can bring an end to this season of despair; we can bring an end to this avoidable fear; we can bring an end to this néedless anxiety. On February 14, 2014, the Almighty offers us a historic opportunity to chart a new course out of the tragedy that we have found ourselves; History offers us a chance to correct the errors of the past. Great Nigerian people! THIS IS OUR. CHANCE! It is a matter of historic record that I have offered to serve our country thrice in this civilian dispensation. I have done so in the faith that my life has no meaning if my country can not get it right. I have done so in the conviction that God has spared my life because it can still be given to make this country realise her manifest destiny as a black Super Power. I have done so in the hope that our people shall see through the scaremongering of those who are scared by the values that I represent: the values of transparency, anti-corruption and development of our human and material resources. I knew it was going to be a Herculean task to unseat the group of the corrupt who have seized our country s politics and economy by the jugular and are determined to suck it dry. Myself and my allies stuck out our neck and maximized the opportunity provided by popular-democracy to persuade our people. Today, the situation is different because the Nigerian voters can no longer be deceived by the misinformation and disinformation antics of the rulers. Our opponents have not only run out of ideas, they have run out of excuses for failure. Our proverb says that what is obtained by deception does not last. There is a saying that you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Let us be wise now, not after the fact. My message to you is to use your voters card on February 14, 2015 to liberate our country by voting for a real happy new year for yourselves. Your vote for us will translate to cheaper electricity, food security, accelerated power supply, integrated transport network, free education , affordable health care service and effective security of life and property. The achievement of all of these objectives does not require the expertise of a rocket scientist. All it requires is a disciplined and visionary leadership that genuinely and determinedly fights corruption while utilising the talents of the country’s best brains in the task of national redemption and rejuvenation. This is the type of leadership i offer and for which i humbly seek the mandate of Nigerians at the polls this new year. I Am confident that great days are ahead of Nigerians. I therefore enjoin us all to keep hope alive. The glory and pride of Nigeria will be restored both internally and externally this new year. Renew your faith that, for Nigeria, the best is on the way and by the grace of the Almighty, i shall meet you there. Happy New Year ! DELE ALAKE DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS BUHARI CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:01:52 +0000
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