Buhari acknowledged that the ‘change’ Nigerians yearning for will happen, but will be gradual given the level of damage in the past 16 years.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reinforced his government’s commitment to fight corruption and to ensure offenders face the full wrath of the law.
In a Vanguard compilation of comments and thoughts of Buhari, 48 hours before his inauguration as the new Nigeria leader, he reiterated the top issues his administration will tackle after assuming office – security, unemployment, fighting corruption, infrastructure amongst others.
He said the Goodluck Jonathan administration has grounded the Nigerian system, as he acknowledged the challenges he must face to bring about the ‘change’ Nigerians are yearning for.
He said, “the biggest message is to try and persuade the people that it is not possible to change the state of affairs now. It took 16 years to get to that state of affairs. Nigeria earned more revenue during that period than what it earned from 1914 to 1999.
“We used to have Nigeria Airways, Nigerian National Shipping Line, Nigeria Railway. Where are they now? Where is the infrastructure that is commensurate with what we earned in-between, what is on ground? That is how efficiently the PDP managed Nigeria in the last 16 years.”
Buhari assured that no stone will be left unturned in the fight against corruption, noting that not even immunity clause will aid the escape of anyone who is fingered and found guilty by the law.
He stated, “we will make sure that we get cooperation from the judiciary so that people who worked against the law are prosecuted, especially those who have lost their immunity, even those who think they have immunity because this is the best way to stabilize the system.
“People must not benefit from being lawless. You can’t be in a position by virtue of the Constitution, subvert the Constitution and continue to enjoy the privileges offered by the Constitution. I don’t think that will be acceptable by the APC.
“So, whether you are in the opposition or the government, you have to behave. I think that is the way we can make progress.”
