In a recent interview with Radio Continental, the Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina
responded to salient issues affecting the nation. Issues like Hard times
in Nigeria, Niger Delta Agitations, Recovered monies, Power Supply and
more, were addressed by him. Excerpts below…
Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina
responded to salient issues affecting the nation. Issues like Hard times
in Nigeria, Niger Delta Agitations, Recovered monies, Power Supply and
more, were addressed by him. Excerpts below…
Alleged lopsided Appointments
What I would like to say is that this government takes feedback very
serious. The feedback that has come on appointments in the last few
weeks has been well noted. They are being processed and would inform
what is going to happen going forward and be assured that the processing
would come with something good for every part of the country. That is
not to say that those appointments do not have their merits. All of them
can be defended, but the feedbacks are well noted.
Under the presidential system, there is what is called presidential
prerogative, and there are some appointments the president can make and
he does not necessarily have to consult . Not all appointments are
subject to federal character, as there are some that can be done by
presidential prerogative.
serious. The feedback that has come on appointments in the last few
weeks has been well noted. They are being processed and would inform
what is going to happen going forward and be assured that the processing
would come with something good for every part of the country. That is
not to say that those appointments do not have their merits. All of them
can be defended, but the feedbacks are well noted.
Under the presidential system, there is what is called presidential
prerogative, and there are some appointments the president can make and
he does not necessarily have to consult . Not all appointments are
subject to federal character, as there are some that can be done by
presidential prerogative.
Hard times in the Land
We know that things are very difficult in the country. But that is not
peculiar to Nigeria, as a number of countries like Venezuala are going
through tough times. Nigeria is not immune from that because it is part
of the global system. In the recent past, on a radio interview, I had
been asked: ‘Does government know that people are suffering and that
people are complaining?’ I answered that government is aware of what the
citizens are passing through, and the radio station went further to ask
if I know that a man exchanged his son for a bag of rice? And I
responded that I wasn’t aware, but that the support base of this
administration is still very strong, and people who are ready to pass
through this difficult times patiently are more than those who criticize
the governments . But a mischievous person went on social media and
twisted my comment, claiming I said only a few Nigerians are hungry.
That particular station re-ran the interview for clarification, but of
course the wailers would prefer to hear their own mindset and not the
clarification. I didn’t lose sleep over it because that wasn’t what I
said. I also live in this society, people have that erroneous feeling
and belief that when you serve in a government, you are in a cocoon and
far removed from reality, which is not true. Our wives and children go
to the market, we also feel the harsh situation. Yes, Nigerians are
passing through tough times, but tough times don’t last , only tough
people do. I said, and I repeat again, that the tough times we are going
through are the consequences of the past. But some people say they
don’t want to hear about the past. How can you not want to hear about
the past? How do you determine the future if you don’t want to hear
about the past ?
We know that things are very difficult in the country. But that is not
peculiar to Nigeria, as a number of countries like Venezuala are going
through tough times. Nigeria is not immune from that because it is part
of the global system. In the recent past, on a radio interview, I had
been asked: ‘Does government know that people are suffering and that
people are complaining?’ I answered that government is aware of what the
citizens are passing through, and the radio station went further to ask
if I know that a man exchanged his son for a bag of rice? And I
responded that I wasn’t aware, but that the support base of this
administration is still very strong, and people who are ready to pass
through this difficult times patiently are more than those who criticize
the governments . But a mischievous person went on social media and
twisted my comment, claiming I said only a few Nigerians are hungry.
That particular station re-ran the interview for clarification, but of
course the wailers would prefer to hear their own mindset and not the
clarification. I didn’t lose sleep over it because that wasn’t what I
said. I also live in this society, people have that erroneous feeling
and belief that when you serve in a government, you are in a cocoon and
far removed from reality, which is not true. Our wives and children go
to the market, we also feel the harsh situation. Yes, Nigerians are
passing through tough times, but tough times don’t last , only tough
people do. I said, and I repeat again, that the tough times we are going
through are the consequences of the past. But some people say they
don’t want to hear about the past. How can you not want to hear about
the past? How do you determine the future if you don’t want to hear
about the past ?
BUT the Government has less than three years to spend now
Yes, even one week in government is a long time. The times would change
and those who believe it would see it . Those who are ready to be
patient would eat the fruit of the land. A lot is being done to make
life better for Nigerians. The Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, says
technically, Nigeria is in recession. Why do we have government?
Government is there to alleviate the plight of the people and make
things better. The onus is on the people to then be patient, knowing
that this government is out for their interest and cares for them. It is
not a magic wand that can be waved and everything happens. It is a
process, and a painstaking one that something good would come out from.
Yes, even one week in government is a long time. The times would change
and those who believe it would see it . Those who are ready to be
patient would eat the fruit of the land. A lot is being done to make
life better for Nigerians. The Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, says
technically, Nigeria is in recession. Why do we have government?
Government is there to alleviate the plight of the people and make
things better. The onus is on the people to then be patient, knowing
that this government is out for their interest and cares for them. It is
not a magic wand that can be waved and everything happens. It is a
process, and a painstaking one that something good would come out from.
President Buhari’s plan
Almost at every forum, the president would talk about agriculture and
solid minerals. Agriculture would take two to three planting seasons
before you see the dividends. It has been said repeatedly that by 2018,
Nigeria would not need to import some agricultural produce again because
the policy being put in place and the empowerment being given to
farmers in different parts of the country would ensure that by that
year, things would have changed . What we are passing through can only
be temporary. There is also a timeline that would see that we don’t
import fuel again by 2018 and by 2019, we would be exporting. If we have
these time-tables, why don’t we trust, believe, pray and join hands
with government so that these come into being?
Almost at every forum, the president would talk about agriculture and
solid minerals. Agriculture would take two to three planting seasons
before you see the dividends. It has been said repeatedly that by 2018,
Nigeria would not need to import some agricultural produce again because
the policy being put in place and the empowerment being given to
farmers in different parts of the country would ensure that by that
year, things would have changed . What we are passing through can only
be temporary. There is also a timeline that would see that we don’t
import fuel again by 2018 and by 2019, we would be exporting. If we have
these time-tables, why don’t we trust, believe, pray and join hands
with government so that these come into being?
cash crunch/Niger Delta Agitations
Let me start first with your statement that there is no cash in the
economy, by giving this information. In 2014, this country was making
averagely $3.2 billion from petroleum every month. The last statistics
that I have available is that of April, 2016. Do you know how much we
made? $550 million, compared with $3.2 billion in 2014. Now, it was
after April that the sabotage went up in the Niger Delta, and instead of
2.2 million barrels of oil daily, we are exporting about 1.6 million,
and you can imagine how revenue has dropped. If it was $550 million in
April, you can imagine what it would be if the sabotage continues. The
onus is on everyone to know and realize that this is our country and
whatever we do to it, is what we get from it.
The government is not averse to negotiation. Even when things are done
through force of arms, at the end of the day, they would be concluded
through negotiations. The president specifically instructed the Office
of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to engage in dialogue with the
militants. One problem is that there are scores of groups in the Niger
Delta, not just a group. When they meet with one, the rest would say
they are fake and a particular one is the real one. This is a major
challenge.
Let me start first with your statement that there is no cash in the
economy, by giving this information. In 2014, this country was making
averagely $3.2 billion from petroleum every month. The last statistics
that I have available is that of April, 2016. Do you know how much we
made? $550 million, compared with $3.2 billion in 2014. Now, it was
after April that the sabotage went up in the Niger Delta, and instead of
2.2 million barrels of oil daily, we are exporting about 1.6 million,
and you can imagine how revenue has dropped. If it was $550 million in
April, you can imagine what it would be if the sabotage continues. The
onus is on everyone to know and realize that this is our country and
whatever we do to it, is what we get from it.
The government is not averse to negotiation. Even when things are done
through force of arms, at the end of the day, they would be concluded
through negotiations. The president specifically instructed the Office
of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to engage in dialogue with the
militants. One problem is that there are scores of groups in the Niger
Delta, not just a group. When they meet with one, the rest would say
they are fake and a particular one is the real one. This is a major
challenge.
Corruption War
You will always have complaints and allegations that the fight is tilted
towards witch- hunting or at a particular group. The outgoing American
ambassador to Nigeria says the anti-corruption war is proceeding well
and that America is happy with it. While we don’t need the US to
validate the war, it is still instructive. Naturally, people who are
affected will not keep quiet.
In terms of strategy, anybody that has questions to answer would be
called in, irrespective of who he is. The president is also fair minded
enough to say if anyone has not been indicted, no one should be tarred
with the brush of corruption. It is not true that when you serve in
government, you become automatically corrupt, it is not.
You will always have complaints and allegations that the fight is tilted
towards witch- hunting or at a particular group. The outgoing American
ambassador to Nigeria says the anti-corruption war is proceeding well
and that America is happy with it. While we don’t need the US to
validate the war, it is still instructive. Naturally, people who are
affected will not keep quiet.
In terms of strategy, anybody that has questions to answer would be
called in, irrespective of who he is. The president is also fair minded
enough to say if anyone has not been indicted, no one should be tarred
with the brush of corruption. It is not true that when you serve in
government, you become automatically corrupt, it is not.
Recovered Monies
About recovered funds, the president said in Kaduna that funds recovered
would be used for infrastructure. The vice president has also repeated
the same. The recovered funds would be used for roads, electricity and
other infrastructure. Whether it is already in use, is the people in
Finance that would know about that.
On the issue of amnesty for those people who return money voluntarily,
it does not mean that there will be a blanket amnesty, but each case
would be taken on the recommendation of the attorney general of the
federation. Each case would be taken and the recommendation of the
Attorney General will be very important.
About recovered funds, the president said in Kaduna that funds recovered
would be used for infrastructure. The vice president has also repeated
the same. The recovered funds would be used for roads, electricity and
other infrastructure. Whether it is already in use, is the people in
Finance that would know about that.
On the issue of amnesty for those people who return money voluntarily,
it does not mean that there will be a blanket amnesty, but each case
would be taken on the recommendation of the attorney general of the
federation. Each case would be taken and the recommendation of the
Attorney General will be very important.
Army Chief and Dubai property
What I would say is that this government does not just pounce on people
and drag them to court, so that it can be seen or heard that it is
fighting corruption. It follows a due process. The last I heard on that
case is the Code of Conduct Bureau coming out to say that yes, the
houses in Dubai were declared in the name of one the wives of Lt Gen
Tukur Buratai. So, if the Code of Conduct Bureau is satisfied that no
law has been breached, then that is it.
Don’t forget what the President said recently: We are on this war, and
anyone who is indicted will answer for it. I will just say, let’s hang
on the words of the president. Investigation is not necessarily an
indictment, however.
What I would say is that this government does not just pounce on people
and drag them to court, so that it can be seen or heard that it is
fighting corruption. It follows a due process. The last I heard on that
case is the Code of Conduct Bureau coming out to say that yes, the
houses in Dubai were declared in the name of one the wives of Lt Gen
Tukur Buratai. So, if the Code of Conduct Bureau is satisfied that no
law has been breached, then that is it.
Don’t forget what the President said recently: We are on this war, and
anyone who is indicted will answer for it. I will just say, let’s hang
on the words of the president. Investigation is not necessarily an
indictment, however.
Power supply
In a recent interview granted by the president to THE INTERVIEW
magazine, he was asked why he entrusted three key ministries in thands
of one person, and he said it was a queation of capacity. That when he
sees that someone has the capacity, he will assign task to him and that
was why those ministries were handed over to Mr Babatunde Fashola. He
said the reward for hard work is more work.
I visited Mr Fashola in his office recently, and I went away very glad
and hopeful . My hope was rekindled in the country. The Minister
referred to when he was governor of Lagos, and that people did not hear
much from him in the first year, because he was planning. But by the
second year was when people began to see much developments. He said by
the second anniversry of this administration, we would see results of
what he would have done in the three ministries. He told me that the
government priority roads: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Lokoja, and
Port Harcourt-Enugu, would be done, that we should wait and see how far
they would have gone by May next year.
These are the kind of things that we should love to hear as Nigerians
but some people are just cynical. Rather than cynicism, we should be
hopeful.As a person, I am positive that this government would deliver,
and deliver well.
In a recent interview granted by the president to THE INTERVIEW
magazine, he was asked why he entrusted three key ministries in thands
of one person, and he said it was a queation of capacity. That when he
sees that someone has the capacity, he will assign task to him and that
was why those ministries were handed over to Mr Babatunde Fashola. He
said the reward for hard work is more work.
I visited Mr Fashola in his office recently, and I went away very glad
and hopeful . My hope was rekindled in the country. The Minister
referred to when he was governor of Lagos, and that people did not hear
much from him in the first year, because he was planning. But by the
second year was when people began to see much developments. He said by
the second anniversry of this administration, we would see results of
what he would have done in the three ministries. He told me that the
government priority roads: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Lokoja, and
Port Harcourt-Enugu, would be done, that we should wait and see how far
they would have gone by May next year.
These are the kind of things that we should love to hear as Nigerians
but some people are just cynical. Rather than cynicism, we should be
hopeful.As a person, I am positive that this government would deliver,
and deliver well.