Buhari: Security Situation In North East, South South Much Better Now Than Before 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday did an overview of the
security situation in some parts of the country since his
assumption of office six years ago saying security has improved
considerably in both the North East and South South geo-political
zones as against what was obtainable before 2015.

The President, according to a release issued by his spokesman,
Garba Shehu, spoke in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State while
playing host to some governors of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), stressed that the security situation had improved
compared to the instability in the North East before 2015, and the
South South, where some parts of the North were directly under the
control of terrorists, while the South was facing serious
challenges.

He said: “The subsequent development in the North West is the
most amazing, where people who lived together, spoke same language
and shared common faith started killing each other and rustling
cows.

“I had to change the security chiefs and we had to get down to
the fundamentals of providing security. If you look at the
situation in relation to time and resources, you will find out what
we have been able to achieve”.

President Buhari has, therefore, implored historians and
intellectuals to be factual in keeping the records of his
administration, especially in guiding electorate to make right
choices of leadership for the country.

According to him, the future of the country would be shaped by
the diligence and honesty of those who document history and provide
analysis of situations, knowing the value of what obtained in the
past, and afterwards.

He stressed that it would be unfortunate to mislead electorate
with lies, and personal bias, reiterating the need to put the
larger interest of the country beyond other colorations.

His words: “For the time remaining, and for those who have one
more term in office based on the provision of the constitution, the
elections are important to the parties. Intellectuals and
historians should be fair to us so that those who are looking for
leadership positions will not exploit the political ignorance or
lack of knowledge of the people”.

The President told the governors to remain steadfast on
delivering their promises to the people adding that “we have done
our best and thank God for what we have been able to achieve with
the available resources, otherwise we would have been in
trouble”.

He said oil prices fell from more than 100 dollars to less than
38 dollars under his administration, while the output that was 2.1
million barrels a day dropped to about 500,000 barrels, yet a lot
was achieved.

Earlier in his remarks, Governor of Kebbi State and Chairman of
Progressive Governors Forum, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, thanked the
President for providing vision and strong leadership for the APC,
noting that the efforts to mainstream agriculture as mainstay of
the economy was yielding results.

He said: “I drove from Kebbi State to Daura, and stopped to pick
the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, and realized that
for the eight hours of coming here, we didn’t see more than
10kilometres of land that was not cultivated.

“It goes to show that the efforts to improve security is also
paying off. Farmers are taking advantage and planting. In six
weeks, Your Excellency, you have commissioned projects in Lagos,
Kano, Katsina and Borno States, and also launched some projects
virtually.

“We appreciate the projects the federal government is doing in
every state of the country and supporting governors, even those
that are not so progressive”.

Bagudu revealed that his three other colleagues namely, Prof Ben
Ayade of Cross River, David Umahi of Ebonyi and Bello Matawalle of
Zamfara left their former party, the opposition Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to join the APC because of the fatherliness, equitable
character and focus of the President on bottom-up development.

“We are proud to have you as our leader. Your achievements and
ideals are inculcated in all of us,’’ he noted.

The governors at the meeting with the President also include
Prof Ben Ayade of Cross River, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Bello
Matawalle of Zamfara, John Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who is Chairman
of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina,
Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger,
Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa States
were also part of the visit.

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday did an overview of the
security situation in some parts of the country since his
assumption of office six years ago saying security has improved
considerably in both the North East and South South geo-political
zones as against what was obtainable before 2015.

The President, according to a release issued by his spokesman,
Garba Shehu, spoke in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State while
playing host to some governors of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), stressed that the security situation had improved
compared to the instability in the North East before 2015, and the
South South, where some parts of the North were directly under the
control of terrorists, while the South was facing serious
challenges.

He said: “The subsequent development in the North West is the
most amazing, where people who lived together, spoke same language
and shared common faith started killing each other and rustling
cows.

“I had to change the security chiefs and we had to get down to
the fundamentals of providing security. If you look at the
situation in relation to time and resources, you will find out what
we have been able to achieve”.

President Buhari has, therefore, implored historians and
intellectuals to be factual in keeping the records of his
administration, especially in guiding electorate to make right
choices of leadership for the country.

According to him, the future of the country would be shaped by
the diligence and honesty of those who document history and provide
analysis of situations, knowing the value of what obtained in the
past, and afterwards.

He stressed that it would be unfortunate to mislead electorate
with lies, and personal bias, reiterating the need to put the
larger interest of the country beyond other colorations.

His words: “For the time remaining, and for those who have one
more term in office based on the provision of the constitution, the
elections are important to the parties. Intellectuals and
historians should be fair to us so that those who are looking for
leadership positions will not exploit the political ignorance or
lack of knowledge of the people”.

The President told the governors to remain steadfast on
delivering their promises to the people adding that “we have done
our best and thank God for what we have been able to achieve with
the available resources, otherwise we would have been in
trouble”.

He said oil prices fell from more than 100 dollars to less than
38 dollars under his administration, while the output that was 2.1
million barrels a day dropped to about 500,000 barrels, yet a lot
was achieved.

Earlier in his remarks, Governor of Kebbi State and Chairman of
Progressive Governors Forum, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, thanked the
President for providing vision and strong leadership for the APC,
noting that the efforts to mainstream agriculture as mainstay of
the economy was yielding results.

He said: “I drove from Kebbi State to Daura, and stopped to pick
the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, and realized that
for the eight hours of coming here, we didn’t see more than
10kilometres of land that was not cultivated.

“It goes to show that the efforts to improve security is also
paying off. Farmers are taking advantage and planting. In six
weeks, Your Excellency, you have commissioned projects in Lagos,
Kano, Katsina and Borno States, and also launched some projects
virtually.

“We appreciate the projects the federal government is doing in
every state of the country and supporting governors, even those
that are not so progressive”.

Bagudu revealed that his three other colleagues namely, Prof Ben
Ayade of Cross River, David Umahi of Ebonyi and Bello Matawalle of
Zamfara left their former party, the opposition Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) to join the APC because of the fatherliness, equitable
character and focus of the President on bottom-up development.

“We are proud to have you as our leader. Your achievements and
ideals are inculcated in all of us,’’ he noted.

The governors at the meeting with the President also include
Prof Ben Ayade of Cross River, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Bello
Matawalle of Zamfara, John Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who is Chairman
of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina,
Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger,
Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa States
were also part of the visit.