Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has described President Muhammadu Buhari victory in Saturday’s polls as a triumph of democracy.
He made the remarks yesterday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Buhari as winner of the exercise.
The SGF said the victory over the leading opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was a confirmation of the faith of the Nigerian people in the ability and leadership of Buhari.
“I am quite excited. This is a victory for democracy and it is a big victory for Nigeria. The people of Nigeria have spoken through their votes for President Buhari. This victory has only confirmed their faith and trust in the person of President Buhari, having seen how he piloted this country in the last three and half years and nearing four years. And you can see the excitement in their celebrations today,” Mustapha said.
He assured Nigerians that Buhari would fulfill his core three election campaign promises of security, fight against corruption and growing the economy.
He noted that when the administration was first elected in 2015, about 17 local government areas (LGAs) were under the control of Boko Haram terror group in the North-east.
He also said that about six of the affected areas were in his home state of Adamawa, adding that there is now restoration of peace in the affected areas, while the President has ensured the country is secured.
Mustapha listed improved agricultural yields and revolution in rice farming and investment in social infrastructure to be some of the factors that gave the government public trust, saying nobody was left out of the inclusiveness in government.
“We must try to diversify the economy. The development of N-Power and Trader Moni is a sign of the level of social infrastructure I am talking about. We are not there yet. Other areas we should begin to look at is how we can skill our university graduates. You may have a university degree but in the most industrialised nations there is a shift not in Just in having university degrees. There is difference in skilling the youthful population, so that they be gainfully employed. You can have a degree but you may not have the skills that are very fundamental. There should be emphasis on skills and these are the areas going forward we should be able to look at”’.
The SGF also stated that the new minimum wage will be given attention in the 2019 budget by Buhari once it is passed by the National Assembly and sent for accent to the president, adding the president meant well and desires to give the working class a wage that is reasonable.
“The president has been a state governor, a minister of petroleum resources, chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and a former Military Head of State. He is so broad in his livelihood and not given to any conspicuous consumption. You don’t find this type of people as they come very rare in a generation. You can see the drive in his passion,”
