… Says Opposition Not Competent To Criticize Present Administration
… Insists On Leaving Legacy Of Transparent Electoral Processes
… Nigeria’s Unity As Single Entity Not Negotiable
By Williams Anuku, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary said there would be more adjustment in the prices of petroleum products, as it makes no sense selling below other oil-producing nations.
The President used a comparison with other top oil-producing countries of the world to buttress the need for further adjustment in prices.
“Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre. A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point; Chad which is an oil-producing country charges N362 per litre
“Niger, also an oil-producing country sells 1 litre at N346. In Ghana, another oil-producing country, petroleum pump price is N326 per litre.
“Further afield, Egypt charges N211 per litre. Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia, “he stated while addressing Nigerians in the early hours of Thursday.
Buhari also took a swipe on the opposition which held sway for almost two decades, saying it laid a poor administrative foundation which the present government was trying to remedy.
According to Buhari, having been in power between 1999 to 2015 without any meaningful impact on Nigerians provides no moral justification for criticism on a government working with lean resources to remedy the situation.
Buhari also technically wrote off any plans for restructuring, saying “let us collectively resolve to continue our journey beyond the sixty years on the clear understanding that as a nation we are greater together than being smaller units of nationalities” .
His words, “No government in the past did what we are doing with such scarce resources. We have managed to keep things going in spite of the disproportionate spending on security. Those in the previous Governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided over the near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attempt to criticize our efforts.
“In the circumstances, a responsible government must face realities and take tough decisions.
“Fellow Nigerians, to achieve the great country we desire, we need to solidify our strength, increase our commitment and encourage ourselves to do that which is right and proper even when no one is watching.
“Fellow Nigerians, let us collectively resolve to continue our journey beyond the sixty years on the clear understanding that as a nation we are greater together than being smaller units of nationalities. By the special grace of God we shall come through any transient challenges.
“It is my sincere hope that by the end of this anniversary on September 30th 2021, we will all be proud of taking this individual and collective self-assessment for the progress of our great Nation”.