Prominent Nigerians, groups set target for Buhari as he resumes

- President Muhammadu Buhari resumes duty on Monday, March 13

- Prominent Nigerians and groups has offered advice to the president as he resumes today

- The president was away for 51 days in London for medical vacation

A report by The Punch indicates that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other eminent groups have set a target for President Buhari on what should be his focus as he resumes today.

Besides the NLC, organisations and personalities who spoke included the Northern Elders’ Council, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group; Afenifere and Alhaji Balarabe Musa.

They advised the president to focus on the economy so that the plight of the masses, who could not travel abroad for medical treatment, would improve.

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Legit.ng lists the demands of the groups and individuals below:

1. The NLC called on Buhari to focus on the challenges facing the country, especially the economy. The general secretary of the NLC, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, said the government should tackle the problem of the economy to get the country out of recession. He stated that it was important for the government to initiate policies that would reduce the suffering of Nigerians.

2. The executive s, Anti-corruption Network, Mr Ebenezer Oyetakin, said the president should improve on the economy.

Oyetakin said: “Buhari should focus on getting the economy to work better in the interest of the common masses. He should increase the battle against corruption and make it more potent. He should work towards the re-denomination of the naira as a way to administratively deal with corruption in one swoop and to free the naira from both local and international currency war and manipulations.”

3. The national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said it was high time the country was restructured.

Odumakin said: “The country is drifting dangerously and the release of the timetable for the next elections by INEC will put the government under serious pressure as it signals the commencement of serious politicking.

“He therefore needs a dedicated team that can deliver on his core commitments to Nigeria in the few months left for governance under this dispensation.

“It would be nice if the President realises that holding elections under this structure without modifications may not augur well for the polity. A restructured polity therefore seems the low hanging fruit that can give him a lasting legacy.”

3. The spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said it was left for the president and his close aides to decide his area of priorities. He believed Buhari must have used part of his medical leave to refresh his mind on areas he would like to face.

His words: “If he cannot do all, he would probably have to prioritise areas that will be of greater importance to the public. It is entirely up to him and those who are close to him, either as ministers or others, whatever their functions are in the system.”

4. A former governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said the president must carry out a thorough review of his economic policies.

Balarabe stated that the economy was “very sick” going by the daily hardship of Nigerians, and a good way to prove to the people that he was refreshed was for Buhari to come up with policy directions and plans to uplift the economy.

His words: “There is need for a fundamental change in the economy in particular. This is because the economy is the sum total of the welfare of the people. He must provide a healthy economy that will make Nigerians glad.

“He must face the stark realities that the economy and welfare of the people are in danger, simply because we have economic and political systems that put the interests of a few forward.”

5. The president, Nigerian Voters Assembly, Masud Erubami advised the president to come out with a new style of anti corruption crusade.

“The president should show in his speeches and body languages that he had healthily returned as the true Buhari that we knew by displaying his distaste for corruption and from the way it is being currently handled,” Erubami stated.

6. The president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Malachy Ugwummadu, said Buhari should deepen the consultation in the Niger Delta.

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Meanwhile, an earlier report had indicated that President Buhari has no schedule on his itinerary as he resumes work on Monday, March 13.

According to the report, no assignment has been scheduled yet for Buhari as he formally resumes from his 51-day medical vacation.

Source: Legit.ng