Aminat Isah, Abuja
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has has highlighted some of the reasons why president Muhammadu Buhari got re-elected by Nigerians in the February 23 presidential and national assembly polls.
The Minister gave the highlights during a meeting with ministry of information and culture management in Abuja on Thursday, saying he had no doubt at all that Nigerians will re-elect the President.
On why he was confident of the president being reelected, Mohammed said President Buhari presides over a government that has done what no government in the history of Nigeria has done.
He enumerated some of the achievements of the Buhari administration to include, the spending of unprecedented 2.7 trillion Naira, on infrastructural renewal, citing example of the rail system which is being modernized and construction and expansion roads in every state, building and modernization of airports terminals, Power generation and distribution which he says are going up steadily.
Mohammed explained that the fight against corruption which is being institutionalized with a number of policies that include Treasury Single Account (TSA), Whistleblower policy, etc. of which huge amounts of money as well as property are being recovered from looters, and those who have looted the treasury are being jailed.
The country itching closer to achieving self sufficiency in food production, especially in such staples as rice, yam, cassava, etc. We have grown the number of our rice farmers from 5 million to about 12 million, and rice importation which have reduced drastically, paying very close attention to the security of lives and property.
The Ease of Doing Business programme which he esplained is receiving accolades around the world, via visa on arrival policy which has make it easier for business people and tourists to visit Nigeria.
Other reasons for the president’s reelection according tho the minister are,the Administration’s Social Investment Programme made up of school feeding programme, the N-Power programme, and the conditional cash transfer.
The SMEs access to loan of between 10,000 and 100,000 under Tradermomi and Market money to business owners, payment to pensioners such as ex-workers of the Nigerian Airways, NITEL and former Biafran Policemen, among others.
He appreciated Nigerians for the modest effort made in delivering Kwara State from the grip of a crippling hegemony, and in ensuring massive victory for Mr. President in the presidential election.
He also noted that the credit for the liberation of Kwara goes to the good people of State who, despite efforts to compromise them, refused to sell their votes. As a simple slogan, O To Ge (Enough is Enough), captured the determination of the people to vote out those who have held them down for decades.
He said the Buhari led government is doing more with less and is restoring decency and integrity to governance.
Mohammed recalled the New York Times said, the re-election of President Buhari is a referendum on honesty and there is no better way to put it, as last weekend’s election is a direct contest between ordinary Nigerians and the elites, most of whom are rent seekers, and the ordinary Nigerians won.
” I want to state that the building of a strong, secured, economically-buoyant and corruption-free society is the responsibility of all. And it is achievable. While some people are still dreaming of how to make Nigeria work again, we are already making it work,” he said
He implore Nigerians to continue to support the present Administration, adding that the effort put in by each and everyone goes a long way in making the country a better place.
He also used the opportunity to also remind the people of Kwara State that the final demolition exercise will take place on March 9 and that they should not rest on their oars.
