The Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), have called for President Muhammadu Buhari’s impeachment following his inability to solve Nigeria’s insecurity challenges.
Speaking in an interview with AIT on Monday morning, the NEF spokesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the nation could not wait two more years for Buhari to address the issues of insecurity.
He noted that those who had the constitutional responsibility to protect Nigeria must realise that the country was in a dire state and do something other than making promises.
The spokesman said the second option is for citizens to get together and decide to do something.
Baba-Ahmed said; “The third option is that those leaders who are failing will recognise the fact that they are the problem and resign because they clearly have nothing to offer in terms of leadership.
“As our democratic system provides, those with the responsibility to get them off should impeach those who are failing. If the president can’t deliver, he should be impeached.
“We don’t have a National Assembly that appears to have the level of patriotism and concern beyond partisan politics to realise that when this roof falls, it also falls on their heads.
The Forum warns the nation not to be misled into thinking that these changes will dramatically change the nation’s fortunes in its fight against multiple security threats.
Northern Elders’ Forum has warned Nigerians not to expect any dramatic change in the security situation in the country with the appointment of new security chiefs.
The Northern elders said their performance will be largely determined by the Commander-in-Chief.
The Director, Publicity and Advocacy for the forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, urged the President to hold service chiefs and senior commanders accountable for successes and failures.
President Buhari and new service chiefs.
Baba-Ahmed also urged the new service chiefs to live up to the expectations of Nigerians in tackling the security challenges ravaging the country so as not to dash their hopes.
It read, “In our current circumstances where the nation is being swamped by old and new security challenges, a change of leadership in our Armed Forces should be a signal that President Muhammadu Buhari accepts the need to effect major changes in his disposition to security issues and improvements in the nation’s capacities to deal with security and public safety.
“Nigerians will hope that these changes, even if belated, are intended as a response to the persistent demands for changes at leadership levels as part of the requirements to improve professionalism, morale and integrity of command structures of our Armed Forces.
“The Forum warns the nation not to be misled into thinking that these changes will dramatically change the nation’s fortunes in its fight against multiple security threats.
“The new service chiefs will be a lot more effective if they are inspired by a Commander-In-Chief who adopts an involved and active interest in their conduct, records and performances.
“President Buhari must therefore reduce his distance from defence and security matters, and hold service chiefs and senior commanders accountable for successes and failures.
“The new service chiefs have been part of the military that has been severely challenged in the fight against a decade-old insurgency and many other threats. The only way they can retain the confidence of Nigerians is to substantially improve on the records of their predecessors.
“The Forum believes that the priorities of the new service chiefs should include real improvements in professional standards and morale of fighting men and women as well as fighting corruption within the Armed Forces.
“They will be aware that our frustrations regarding access to vital weapons and criticisms from foreign and domestic monitors of the war are related to the manner our Armed Forces execute the war, and it will be important for them to lead a military which will operate with higher standards of respect for rules of engagement.
“The Forum invites the nation’s attention to the need to rise in support of leaders to reduce tension and other threats to our security. Events unfolding in the South-West, particularly inflammatory comments and threats by groups and individuals represent existential threats to the whole nation.
“All Nigerians must eschew the temptation to tamper with sensitive matters in pursuit of narrow goals. The Forum repeats its call on President Buhari to summon a meeting of governors, leadership of security and intelligent services and other Nigerians with capacities to advise and assist in de-escalating tensions in the South-West.”
The historian asked people of the Yoruba race and Nigerians to prepare to defend themselves against herdsmen.
The Worldwide Leader of the Yoruba global movement, Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Banji Akintoye, has accused the Presidency of supporting criminality by faulting Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s order asking herdsmen to vacate forest reserves in the state.
In an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, the historian asked people of the Yoruba race and Nigerians to prepare to defend themselves against herdsmen.
He accused Fulani herdsmen of engaging in full-scale criminality since President Muhammadu Buhari became Nigeria’s president.
The Yoruba elder wondered why the Federal Government had refused to prosecute many Fulani herdsmen engaging in criminal activities.
He said, “The Presidency is now initiating a very dangerous doctrine of governance in Nigeria. The presidency is now saying that the state’s authority no longer includes the security of the people of the state.
“That is not only bad but dangerous to the existence of Nigeria. It is an assessment of the quality of governance in Nigeria by the rest of the world.
“All Nigerians who are being assaulted, raped, and killed by the Fulani must defend themselves; not only Yorubas or those living in Ondo. If we continue to wait for the Federal Government, these herdsmen will kill all of us. We must rise to defend ourselves.
Prof Banji Akintoye
“The Nigerian government has shown again that it is working for the Fulani. I don’t think anybody should be afraid to say that because it is the truth. The Fulani has been committing crimes on a massive scale since 2015 in Nigeria.
“The government has never owned up that they are committing the crime. They have been going around kidnapping, killing people, and destroying farms, properties, and villages on a persistent scale and those things are crimes under the laws of Nigeria. In some parts of the country, it looks as if the army is colluding with them (herdsmen).”
The Ilana Omo Oodua leader commended Akeredolu, urging Yoruba to support him.
“Akeredolu should be commended for his decision, for his courage and show of knowledge of the land. We support what he is doing. We are waiting for what government would come and do in Ondo State,” he added.
The Nigerian leader now has his Stingy Men Association ID ready for pick up.
Undated photographs in which President Muhammadu Buhari is seen handing out a ‘miserly’ N1,000 to a bunch of kids on a visit, have inserted him into the Stingy Men Association of Nigeria (SMAN) trend and conversation.
President Buhari with kids in the villa.
The social media trend or bant has been latched onto by celebrities like Don Jazzy and Mr. Macaroni, with identity cards printed for eligible members of the male gender, for effect.
The trend is a self-deprecating joke about men, amid the never-ending gender wars on social media.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated President Muhammadu Buhari over the state of insecurity in the country.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday during the inauguration of new road projects in Bauchi State, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, asked the President to tackle the nation’s security challenges.
While noting Nigeria is in distress, Secondus insisted that President Buhari has failed to tackle the security challenges.
“Just a week ago, over 40 farmers were killed in Borno State. Is Nigeria not in distress? What else do you what me to describe?” he questioned.
“The economy is bad, security is bad, virtually every facet of the Nigerian life has collapsed. What else do you want to hear? You know more than we know.
“You better let the world know and those in authority. All we are saying is that let President Buhari release the Katsina boys for us. We are in pains.”
Secondus explained that President Buhari has left the country worse than he met it, adding that if he were in his shoes, he would declare a state of emergency on security in the country and change the entire security architecture.
His remarks come a week after over 100 gunmen stormed the Government Science Secondary School in Ƙankara Local Government Area of the state and abducted over 333 students of the school.
President Muhammadu Buhari celebrates the decisive victory of Nigerian-born boxer, Anthony Joshua, over Kubrat Pulev Saturday night.
The President says by retaining his IBF, WBA, and WBO titles, Joshua has given boxing lovers round the world, and particularly in Nigeria, something to cheer.
He recalls his meeting with the heavyweight champion in London earlier in the year, describing Anthony Joshua as a humble, well brought up young man, “who will still go places.”President Buhari wishes Joshua all the best in his dream fight against Tyson Fury, saying he has the prayers and goodwill of Nigerians going with him.
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has issued a statement on the recent bye-elections organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on saturday.
The President disclosed that the results of the exercise show that his party, the All progressives Congress, APC remains the party of the people.
“Results coming from the states of the long list of bye-elections show definitely that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), remains the chosen party of Nigerians. We do not take this confidence of the people for granted and we will not fail them.” the statement read.
“Nigerians who appreciate the efforts of the administration in making life better for all citizens, especially under an economy facing the severest test from the global Coronavirus pandemic will not be disappointed.”
“We thank them immensely for their trust in the party and government. We equally thank the Interim Management Committee of the party under the capable leadership of His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, the Governor of Yobe State, the Progressive Governors Forum under Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, all our governors, parliamentarians, state, local government and ward level APC chapters and the entire ranks of the membership for this brave and impressionable performance.”
“While congratulating the successful candidates, President Muhammadu Buhari in particular, is very pleased with the election outcomes and urges the party to uphold the spirit of hard work, unity, progress, cooperation that forms the bedrock of these victories.”
Buhari disclosed this on Tuesday at a meeting of the National Security Council.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will not allow a repeat of the #EndSARS protests that rocked the country recently. Buhari disclosed this on Tuesday at a meeting of the National Security Council.
Recall that the #EndSARS demonstrations across the country turned violent on October 20 after Nigerian soldiers opened fire on peaceful protesters, who had converged at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Across Lagos and other states in the country, vehicles, government buildings and private properties were razed and looted. The incident triggered a global outrage, with calls for justice echoing from different parts of the world.
Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, who spoke with journalists at the end of the meeting, said President Buhari assured Nigerians that he will carry all relevant stakeholders including the youth along in the process of maintaining peace in the country.
The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians to continue to understand and bear with them as they strive to fulfill promises made to them.
The appeal was made in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Friday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed who represented the President.
He spoke at a town hall meeting with traditional rulers, youths, market men and women as well as other stakeholders where the fall out of the #EndSARS protest was discussed.
In his explanation, Mohammed noted that the Buhari administration is dealing with the challenge of scarce resources hence may not have impacted Nigerians as planned or would have loved to do.
He also added that the global COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected resources available to the government and therefore appealed for perseverance, understanding, and patience from Nigerians.
In his words “If we have not done enough or we have not touched everybody, we appeal that you please bear with us. In the first instance, what we have is less than 60 per cent of the revenue that was available to other governments that came before us.
We all know what we suffered during COVID-19, and as we are just trying to recover from this we also face another crisis.We appeal that you should please assist the government and be patient.
This government is dedicated to serving the people and we will continue to try our best to do so.
“I thank you all for your perseverance, understanding and patience,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged all Nigerians to seize the opportunity of this year’s Eid-el-Maulud to reflect on the virtues of the Holy Prophet by showing love and understanding for fellow citizens.
He also urged Nigerians to avert second wave of COVID-19 in Nigeria, saying the nation’s economy cannot bear another round of lockdown.
Buhari’s position was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled “President Buhari welcomes Maulud, urges love and understanding among citizens.”
The statement read, “As Muslims in Nigeria join others all over the world to mark the Eid-el-Maulud, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged all citizens to use the occasion to reflect on the virtues of the Holy Prophet by showing love and understanding for fellow citizens while exhibiting patience, honesty, sincerity, kindness, and generosity in all their undertakings.
“In a message to Muslims commemorating the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (SAW) which is being marked as public holiday, the President urged all citizens, and the youths in particular, to shun all negative tendencies as manifested in the recent hijacking of peaceful protests to loot and destroy public and private property.
“He also reiterated his earlier promise to bring police officers responsible for misconduct as well as the looters to justice.”
Shehu also said on the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari noted that the country has so far managed the problem successfully by keeping the numbers as low as possible.
He said the President however cautioned that Nigerians must not stretch their luck too far.
“Looking at the trends in the other countries, we must do all we can to avert the second wave of the pandemic. We must make sure that our cases, which have gone down, do not rise again. Our economy is too fragile to bear another round of lockdown,” he quoted the President as saying.
He said Buhari, therefore, advised all citizens to continue to observe the COVID-19 protocols of social distancing, wearing of face masks and washing of hands.
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked his ministers to relocate to their home states for the purpose of dousing the tension created by the #ENDSARS protests and the lawlessness that followed.The ministers are scheduled to meet with stakeholders to explain federal government’s efforts to meet the demands of the youths.
Water Resources Minister Sulaiman Adamu, who confirmed the development during a courtesy call to Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State in Dutse, said the cabinet members were directed to “go to our states to solicit the support of political, traditional, religious and community leaders against the violence that emanated from # EndSARS protests.”
Adamu said he was therefore in the state to meet with leaders on “promoting tolerance, peace and stability in this critical moment and hear from them and report back to him (Buhari) immediately.”.
He acknowledged that the #ENDSARS protests started well and was in line with the Nigerian constitution only to be hijacked along the line by those who infringed on the rights of other citizens, killed innocent persons, looted and engaged in other criminal acts.
He said: “President Muhammad Buhari is soliciting the support of all other political leaders in the state to properly address the people of the state on the need to dispel any rumour that is tantamount to creating disunity among Nigerians and also throw the nation into crisis.”
Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio who is on a similar mission to Akwa Ibom landed in Uyo on Saturday accompanied by other federal appointees from the state, including Senior Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang.
He urged youths of the state to embrace peace as President Buhari is committed to meeting their demands with regard to police reforms.
Akpabio said government was doing a lot in terms of job creation and development of key economic infrastructure in the state and the Niger Delta region.
He asked youths of the state to take advantage of social and economic job intervention programmes of the FG, adding that the Buhari administration is desirous of combating poverty and unemployment in the country.
Akpabio said the EndSARS protest was capable of scaring away existing and expected investors with the negative economic effects on the state and the region.
He commended Governor Udom Emmanuel and other governors for setting up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to address the concerns of victims of SARS brutality, adding that the Federal Government was ready to work with governors to achieve justice for victims.
The minister urged all those who have lost their properties in the Thursday carnage to channel their petitions to the judicial commission of enquiry.
Also speaking, Senator Ita Enang condemned the wanton destruction of lives and property by miscreants under the guise of EndSARS.
The organisation said that apart from Maiduguri town, there had been no community in Borno State where people could sleep with their eyes closed.
Members of the Coalition of Concern Northern Elders for Peace and Development on Monday expressed concern over the continued silence of the President Muhammadu Buhari to the growing calls for him to rejig the security architecture in the country.
According to them, the resolutions of the National Assembly that the President should act swiftly to stop the increasingly bad situation was enough for him to act, given that they are the representatives of the people.
The COCONEPD, in a statement by its National Chairman, Dr Mohammed Suleiman, and National Secretary, Hajiya Mairo Buni, said the worsening security situation in the country had caused untold hardship on women and children in both the North-East and the North-West.
The organisation said the insecurity in the country had reached a boiling point, adding that only the sacking of service chiefs as the first step in addressing the ugly development could be acceptable by Nigerians.
The northern elders said that the 2021 budget proposal that was presented to the National Assembly by the President could be difficult to fund should the President fail to address the situation immediately.
The statement read in part, We are compelled by the current state of the nation, especially as it affects the security of lives and property in Nigeria, particularly in the North to issue this press statement.
This coalition became very necessary and urgent to lend our voice to the growing insecurity and call for the sacking of the current service chiefs and total overhaul of the security architecture of our country before it is too late.
We are worried about President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence despite calls by every arm of Nigeria, including the National Assembly. Some international organisations and authorities have faulted our security architecture and called for the need to restructure the same, yet Mr President is still not moved?
Is he waiting for all Nigerians to die first? In a constitutional democracy, the people are the employers of the President, and for a President to write his name in gold, he must listen to the people.
We in this group insist that President Buhari is a good man that means very well for Nigeria and Nigerians, but we strongly believe that he is being misled daily in the happenings of the security.
No Nigerian sleep with his eyes closed anymore. Our roads and homes are no longer safe because of robbery, kidnapping, banditry and Boko Haram terrorists.
The organisation said that apart from Maiduguri town, there had been no community in Borno State where people could sleep with their eyes closed.
The COCONEPD said while malnutrition is the order of the day in IDPs’ camps across North-East, investors had been leaving the country daily because of insecurity.
The group added, We call on the President to take this first step and follow it up with restructuring the entire security architecture of the country for utmost results. Nigerians, especially the youths, are tired of the level of insecurity in the country. The large turnout by youths on the #EndSARS campaign across the country is an indication that Nigerians are tired of excuses.
image captionSunday saw more protests, such as this one in Lagos
Nigeria has dissolved the special police force at the centre of protests against police brutality.
The government said a special presidential directive had ordered the immediate dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).
Protests against the squad were sparked by a video of a man allegedly being killed by police.
The demonstrations have intensified despite a crackdown and have spread outside the country.
All the officers in the Sars squad – widely accused of unlawful arrests, torture and murder – are to be redeployed, the presidency said, and a new arrangement to replace the squad is being worked on.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s chief of police said an a team of investigators – including civil society organisations and human rights bodies – would be set up to investigate alleged abuses by Sars.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said he was determined to end police brutality, introduce reforms and bring “erring personnel… to justice”.
Protesters had demanded the unit be disbanded rather than reformed because previous commitments to change police behaviour had had no effect.
PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE: The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG has been dissolved WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
The Inspector General of Police will communicate further developments in this regard.— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) October 11, 2020
Few minutes ago, the president of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the on going “END SARS” protest in Nigeria.
He stated the following;
“I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.”
“The IG already has my firm instructions to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses, & ensure erring personnel are brought to justice. I appeal for patience & calm, even as Nigerians freely exercise their right to peacefully make their views known.”
“The vast majority of men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are patriotic and committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, and we will continue to support them to do their job.”
ONLY federal workers registered on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform would continue to get salaries, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.
Buhari said this during the presentation of the N13.03 trillion 2021 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday.
The President said any worker not captured on the payroll would be treated as a ghost worker.
But the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that has vowed never to key into the IPPIS platform as demanded by the Federal Government, said the President’s remarks had nothing to do with its members.
ASUU President Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, who reacted to the remark yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari was not referring to its members in his budget speech.
President Muhammadu Buhari
Prof Ogunyemi said: “The President didn’t say ASUU members. He said he didn’t want to pay money to non-existent personnel and he (president) said employees of federal government. That doesn’t translate to ASUU.
“As far as ASUU is concerned, we have met with Mr. President, we have reached an understanding that we should develop the alternative to IPPIS that will respect the autonomy of universities. That is what we have done and which we have presented to the Federal Ministry of Education about two months ago.”
“What is left for government to do is to continue with the integrity test that they promised to conduct before they accept the alternative which is the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).
ASUU
“We don’t believe that ASUU falls into the category of non-existent workers. We don’t believe that ASUU works at the MDAs that Mr. President talked about.
“IPPIS is meant for the civil servants and that we know they are faithfully applying. So if that is going on in the MDAs, we believe the universities should be insulated from civil service rules because universities have their own establishment Acts which are vested with the management of personnel and payroll system in the hands of the university Governing Councils. That is what we have been challenging all along.”
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will on Thursday present the 2021 budget estimate at a Joint session of both chambers of the National Assembly.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, made the announcement at plenary on Tuesday.
Lawan confirmed the receipt of a letter from the Buhari which he read to his colleagues.
“May I crave the kind indulgence of the distinguished senate to grant me the slot of 11:00hrs on Thursday, 8th October, 2020, to formally present the 2021 Appropriation bill to the Joint Session of the National Assembly. While I look forward to addressing the joint session, please, accept Mr Senate President, the assurances of my highest regard.”
Meanwhile the Senate will on Wednesday (today) consider the report of its committee on finance on the 2021-2023 Medium Term Expenditure and Fiscal Strategy Paper which would be presented by the panel Chairman, Senator Solomon Adeola.
According to the presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari will not “succumb to threats and undue pressure” , being mounted by advocates of restructuring the country.
The Presidency, in a statement, criticised “the recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the President to to do one thing or another or else, in their language, “the nation will break up.”
The statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu, added:
“This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the COVID-19 health crisis.”
“This administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the President’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of health crisis.”
He further stated that;
“The President as an elected leader under this constitution will continue to work with patriotic Nigerians, through and in line with the Parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”
In another statement, the Presidency said those condemning the organised Labour for reasoning with the government by suspending a planned nationwide strike last week are enemies of the country.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), after rounds of negotiations with the federal government, suspended the industrial action slated to commence on September 28.
The decision was criticised by varying groups, with some suggesting that the decision was a betrayal.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, noted that the attack on the Labour unions was borne out of pain for “traducers of the Administration”, having failed to achieve an alleged plan to use the strike to score political and electoral gains.
The statement said:
“Since Organized Labour toed the path of sense and sensibility last week, seeing reason with the imperatives of fuel price adjustment, and opening a further window of dialogue on the service based electricity tariff, some groups of Nigerians have been dolorous, disgruntled, and disconsolate.
“They had apparently perfected plans to use the strike by the labour unions as smokescreen to unleash anarchy on the land, fomenting mayhem and civil disobedience. But the plan blew up in their faces, and they have been in severe pains since then. They have launched series of tirades against Organized Labour.”
“For some interest groups, their intention was to use the umbrella of the strike to further their whimsical and pie-in-the-sky dream of a revolution in the country. It went bust in their faces.”
“For some others, Bitter-Enders, who have remained entrenched in pre-2015 and 2019 elections mode, it was opportunity to avenge the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protests, which they believe largely devalued the government of the day, and led to its eventual ouster in 2015.”
“The strike that was to have come up last week, they wanted to use as opportunity for a pound of flesh, which they calculated would weaken the government so much, and influence the 2023 elections.”
“For them, it was all about hanker for power, its trappings and appurtenances. Nothing about love of country. They have since then been calling Organized Labour all sorts of names, claiming they deceived Nigerians.”
“The times in which we live-with severe security, economic and social challenges-call for all hands to be on deck, and goodwill and support for government, as it strives to put the nation on an even keel. We commend Organized Labour for putting the country first.”
“Those sponsoring and encouraging discord and anarchy, either for selfish ends, or as revenge for perceived injuries, are enemies of the country. Nigerians are urged to beware of them, as the Muhammadu Buhari government is only interested in engendering better quality of life for the citizenry. Nothing more.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Thursday, described President Muhammadu Buhari’s independence anniversary speech as a slap on the sensibilities of Nigerians, particularly his justification of his administration’s increment of the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, also known as fuel.
President Buhari had in his broadcast pointed out a number of oil producing countries including Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Egypt and Niger Republic where the price of fuel is higher than in Nigeria, and concluded by saying that “sustaining the level of petroleum prices is no longer possible.”
In its reaction, the PDP, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan called on President Buhari to “wake up to reality and take demonstrable urgent steps that will address the divisive tendencies and poor economic policies of his administration, which are fast decimating our dear nation under his watch.”
According to the party, “President Buhari’s attempt to justify the increase of fuel price in Nigeria by comparing it to the N168 per litre cost in Saudi Arabia is a morbid joke,” adding that “the minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is N305,113 (3000 Saudi Riyals), ten times higher than our paltry N30,000 which is largely unimplemented in Nigeria.”
The statement further read: “Is Mr. President not aware that, on the average, a person working in Saudi Arabia earns around 4,230SAR (N430, 267) to 16,700 SAR (N1, 698,693) per month?
“Our party charges Mr. President to always check his books before making such offensive comparisons including the price in Egypt where monthly average earning is around N222, 841 (9,200 EGP) against our N30,000.
The major opposition party in the country also flayed the togetherness theme of the President’s speech, describing the allusion as a mere rhetoric.
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