President Muhammadu Buhari has restated that all “criminal elements” carrying arms against the country would be brought to justice, saying that as far as he is concerned, all his appointments, policies, initiatives and projects and appointments have been guided by equity and inclusiveness.
President Buhari told the maiden edition of the APC Progressive Youth Conference held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, on Monday that said his administration is committed to tackling the widespread insecurity challenges bedeviling every part of the nation.
Represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Buhari asked APC youths to work for a better future for themselves and the country.
According to him, “as I have repeatedly said in recent weeks, every criminal element that has taken up arms against the peace of the country and its citizens will be brought to book accordingly. As you are all aware, we are currently dealing with some internal security challenges and I will like to reassure you that as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, no effort will be spared in tackling them.”
Dismissing agitations and allegations of marginalization against him and his administration, Buhari said: “There’s actually no part of the country that has not been impacted positively in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and economic support initiative based on peculiarities of the regions.
“Never despair, nor relent in our joint task of nation building. Remember we have no other country but Nigeria. It’s the responsibility of every one of us to work towards the development and advancement of this country.”
Meanwhile, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, told the closing session of the conference night that the APC may face challenges after the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, urging the party to begin to plan ahead to sustain the goodwill and legacies of the present administration.
He noted that by doing so, the party would be able to retain its appeal and nationalistic outlook beyond the 2023 general elections.
He said, “Whether we like it or not, the truth is, President Muhammadu Buhari remains the person with the bulk of the support we get across this country in APC. And when he leaves, he would still have some roles. But I daresay that it is after he leaves office that APC will face its challenge.
“Yes, we have to know our value then, and the value of APC presently is APC minus President Muhammadu Buhari. Whatever it is, that is the value of APC. So, we need to do a lot to build this party, and we need our youths more than ever before for them to continue with this legacy that this administration has established all over the country.
“That means we have to see ourselves as brothers and sisters regardless of where we come from. Our tribe or even ethnic group, our religious persuasion should not matter when it comes to uniting this country. And as APC, the onus is on us to provide security and an economy that will bring growth and development to give people the kind of life that is meaningful. We can ask others to join us, but we are the ones to do it, so we need all hands on deck.”
He lamented that the plan of the APC to deliver on most of its promises to Nigerians was stalled in the first tenure of the President Buhari administration as a result of the feud between the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government.
“So, APC had already lost four very important years. And, that was supposed to be the years that we should have convinced Nigerians that they took the right decision by voting out a PDP administration in 2015.
“What are our options? We are one party in different arms of government. Our policies are supposed to be the same. Our programmes and projects are supposed to be the same, whether you’re in the legislature or the executive.
“So long as you are APC, that is your programme and project, that is your government and you are bound to make it succeed. So, we took the conscious decision of working in harmony that our relationship must be characterized by consultation, coordination, partnership and mutual respect, that we must succeed in the second tenure (2019 – 2023).
“Otherwise, in 2023, many would like to see our backs if you can’t provide the services expected of you in your first four years. And you to change and do better, why would anybody give you eight years?
“So, we felt we have an obligation to Nigerians who voted for us, to our people in APC and to our country, that we must work in such a fashion and manner that government is able to deliver services to Nigerians.”
In his speech at the occassion, the Youth representative in the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Barr Ismaeel Ahmed, said the APC youths were determined to ensure that the party retained power beyond 2027.