President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is upset with the level of poverty in Nigeria. He made his feelings known when he hosted Vice-President Ye
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is upset with the level of poverty in Nigeria. He made his feelings known when he hosted Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Ministers, Service Chiefs, Heads of Security Agencies and Chief Executives of Federal Government Agencies and Institutions to a breaking of fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He also frowned at the inability of the Nigerian elites to address the welfare and educational needs of the less-privileged members of the society.
He challenged the elite to do something very urgent to ameliorate the pathetic poverty situation. He stated that already Federal Government had introduced people friendly programmes like the School Feeding and `Trader Money’ to alleviate the hardship being experienced by the less-privileged individuals across the country. He, therefore, commended the Vice-President for successfully managing the school feeding and `trader money’ programmes.
“When I drive around the country what upsets me very much is the poverty that pervades the country – you see young people, the so-called Almajiris in torn dresses, with plastic bowl. They are looking basically for what to eat. Education is a luxury to them. I think the Nigerian elite, we are all failing because I think we should have a programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for our people no matter how poor they are.
“So, I welcome the Vice-President for initiating the School feeding programme. If you check in your localities the enrolment into schools improved because a lot of children can get at least one good meal a day. This is the position of this country. But, culturally some of us are quite merciless, we don’t care about what happen to others we just keep on moving forward. This `market money’ I warned the Vice-President I don’t like him to be mobbed, especially the way I see hefty women coming and confronting him, he should be very careful. But he knows me if he insists I will say `okay go and do what you like.’ He did it and I’m very pleased as he is being very successful,’’ he said.
Vice-President Osinbajo, who spoke on behalf of the members of the cabinet, thanked the president for inviting them, both Muslims and Christians, to the breaking of fast with him. He said that regardless of ethnic and religion affiliations Nigerians must continue to be their brothers’ keepers and must work towards building a united nation. He, however, condemned some politicians, who were bent on dividing the people along ethno-religious lines.
