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| Muhammadu Buhari |
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, have reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s lamentation about the plight of the Almajiris and other poor people in the country.
They called on the President to wake up and design all-inclusive socio-economic and educational policies that would create employment and increase literacy rate across the country instead of lamenting.
The groups also argued that instead of sharing money through its Trader Moni scheme, the Federal Government should have initiated social empowerment programmes that could address the Almajiri problem.
The President had during a breaking of fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday night, said the plight of the poor, including the Almajiris, upset him.
Buhari lashed out at the elite for failing to address the welfare and educational needs of the underprivileged Nigerians.
Those that attended the event included the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, (SAN), ministers, service chiefs, heads of security agencies and chief executives of some Federal Government’s institutions.
The President stated, “When I drive around the country what upsets me most is the status of our poor people in this country. You see young people, the so-called Almajiris wearing torn dresses, with plastic bowls. They are looking basically for what to eat.
“The question of education (to them) is a luxury. I think the Nigerian elite; we are all failing because I think we should have a programme that will at least guarantee basic education for our people no matter how poor they are.”
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Buhari, who commended Osinbajo, said, “I welcome the Vice-President for initiating the school feeding programme. If you check in your localities the enrolment in schools has improved because a lot of children can get at least one good meal a day. This is the position of this country.
“But culturally, some of us are quite merciless; we don’t care about what happens to others we just keep on moving forward.”
