President Muhammadu Buhari has charged ministers and other top government officials to go “on the offensive” in defending his regime and its achieveme
President Muhammadu Buhari has charged ministers and other top government officials to go “on the offensive” in defending his regime and its achievements. Buhari said these in his closing remarks at the two-day ministerial performance review retreat held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In asking government officials to defend his regime, Buhari said they should ensure that they stop the spread of what he called “irresponsible and politically motivated statements” against his regime.
“I have charged all of you to defend the government vigorously and not allow any irresponsible and politically motivated statements to keep spreading falsehoods about this government.
“Information to the public should be better packaged, go on the offensive, we are proud of our achievements and we should blow our own trumpets,” the President said.
While attributing some of the challenges being faced by his regime to the drop in the price of crude oil, Buhari urged the elite to judge his regime fairly. He said, “We promised three things: security, economy and fighting corruption. We repeated the same thing last year. But I want the Nigeria elite, please encourage us and judge us fairly.
“Between 1999 and 2014, I will like you to please check, the average production (of crude oil) was 2.1m barrels per day; the average cost was $100 per barrel When we came, it collapsed to $37 to $38 per barrel and the militants were unleashed on the administration, the production went down.
“I want you to please reflect what was the condition of the infrastructure, roads, then in spite of the earnings. There was no power and up till now, there is no power. Where did the money go? So, please encourage your friends the elite to reflect on what this administration has done. What the APC (All Progressives Congress) has done and what we have achieved. Well, I am doing my best, God has given me two chances.”
