President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would do whatever it takes to remain honest, just and fair in steering the country towards a better future.
The president made this pledge at the palace of the emir of Daura, Dr Farouk Umar Farouk, during the breaking of the Ramadan fast in line with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
This is the first time that the president has visited his ancestral home of Daura since his medical vacation in the United Kingdom last month and, expectedly, a huge crowd turned out to formally welcome him back in a show of honour and respect.
President Buhari, who was accompanied by the governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, and that of Zamfara State, AbdulAziz Yari Abubakar, was ushered into the inner chamber of the palace and given a befitting Iftar treat.
Addressing the people later, the president thanked the emir for the honour done to him, and spoke extensively on leadership and trust, stressing that no section of the country would either be discriminated against or marginalised on his watch.
He said issues and situations would be considered objectively and that no action would be taken for or against any section of the country on the basis of prejudice.
President Buhari, therefore, called for the support and understanding of Nigerians as he strives to rebuild the country on the basic tenets of fairness, honesty and responsibility.
Both Governor Masari and the Emir of Daura, assured the people of the country that with President Buhari’s honesty and enormous integrity, Nigeria is not only in safe hands, but destined for prosperity.
They described the fight against corruption and the renewed focus on agriculture and solid minerals development as critical to the survival and development of the country. They also pledged the support of the people and government of Katsina State to the Buhari administration.
At the event, which was also attended by the deputy governor, the secretary to the state government (SSG), speaker of the Katsina State Assembly and many traditional title holders, special prayers were offered for peace, unity, stability and sustainable development of the country.
Meanwhile, Meanwhile, the president has told the military that as defenders of the nation’s territorial integrity, it must avoid ethno-centrism and religious intolerance in its operations.
According to him, these two evils threaten Nigeria’s very existence as a sovereign and indivisible nation.
He made the call in a speech delivered at the weekend at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, where he was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Buhari said that what the country needs at this time is a new elite group consisting of professionals in the military who will join in building up a new nation which would be based on the values of integrity, justice, diligence and patriotism.
Addressing the audience made up of top military chiefs, including service chiefs and new graduates of the college’s Senior Course 38, the president said, “the Armed Forces are probably the most visible symbols of national unity and cohesion in the country. This is why the responsibility for fighting against all forms of ethnic and religious prejudices is yours.
“One of the most profound dangers to our democracy and freedom lies in the divisive application of our ethnic and religious diversities. As defenders of the nation’s territorial integrity, we must resist and reject ethno-centrism and religious intolerance. These evils threaten our very existence as a sovereign and indivisible nation.”
The president asserted that the country needs a new set of people with a different mind-set.
“To build the new Nigeria, we need a new tribe: a tribe of men and women of all faiths, tribe and ethnicities, diverse, but firmly committed to a country run on high values of integrity, hardwork, justice and love of country.
“Our nation at this time needs an elite consisting of professionals from the military, businessmen, politicians, religious leaders and all others who believe that a new Nigeria is possible.
“Nigeria needs men and women from the Armed Forces who are prepared to make the sacrifices and self-constraints that are crucial to a strong society.
“This nation needs an elite prepared to stick together, fight corruption and other national ills side-by-side; an elite which insists on justice even where our friends are at the receiving end,” he added.
Addressing graduates drawn from the army, air force, navy, paramilitary and civilians from the Ministry of Defence, the president also observed that fighting Boko Haram or ISIS was a profound new experience not only for the military, but for security forces all over the world, adding that the new frontiers are “like what we have never seen before.”
According to him, “Our society is more complex and our world is more difficult than ever before. The nature of warfare is also vastly different; consequently, the officer of today cannot just be a soldier. In any event, being in the military today requires more than just carrying weapons. The officer must be a public intellectual of sorts – a thinker, versatile, dynamic and capable of introspection.”
He told the gathering, which included the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; the minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, service chiefs and other senior military officers, that contemporary military warfare, especially the influence of technology – like the deployment drones – had thrown up a huge challenge for the military which must develop the right strategies to deal with what he described as “this future before us.”
The president then commended the management of the College for pursuing appropriately structured courses for the participants to prepare them for command and staff responsibilities in full scale warfare.
While fielding questions from journalists after the ceremony, Osinbajo explained that “terrorism is a major blemish on the nation and our character,” adding that reasonable persons must make strenuous effort to combat the scourge.
He further stated that the unconventional nature of terrorism demands that security forces must adopt appropriate strategies to contain it.
A total of 191 Nigerian officers from the military, paramilitary and civilians, eight foreign military officers from the African continent and a South Korean officer graduated from the prestigious military institution.
Vice president Osinbajo was represented by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.