By Oluwaseun Sonde
Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that the opposition party People Democratic Party PDP have been doing everything in recent times to overheat the polity, distort the achievements of Buhari's administration to spread misinformation.
The Minister disclosed this at the Press Conference in Abuja on Monday, he lambasted them for being cold out as hungry and desperate opposition, with every indication that they don't even want to wait for the 2023 elections before testing their popularity or acceptability at the polls.
Mohammed who questioned their moves, said "how else does one explain their court case seeking the declaration of our convention as illegal? How do you explain their threat of another EndSars that pushed Nigerian to the brink? How do you explain their glaring misinformation regarding the nation's state of affairs?".
Though, the Minister admitted that there is nothing wrong in having a fiery and viable opposition in a democracy. "We were there before and we remain the ones to beat in terms of a determined, viable and relentless opposition. But, in our time, not once did we advocate the destruction of Nigeria just because we couldn't have our way.
"Not once did we seek to gain power via a desperate court action. If you destroy the country you are seeking to govern, what country will you govern? Must you cut your nose to spite your face?. In their most recent act of desperation, they sought to erase seven years of unprecedented achievements by the Buhari Administration.
"In the most egregious show of shamelessness and a blatant refusal to be remorseful, they even had the audacity to express righteous indignation the damage they on the country in their 16 years of misrule has not been totally undone in just seven years.
"In other words, those who brought the country to its knees are now accusing those working hard to repair things of non-performance. They said they are ready to rescue Nigeria. Pray, where do kidnappers rescue their victims? These same guys who kidnapped the fortunes of their country are suddenly posing as
rescuers", he added.
The Minister noted that the Federal Government is not unmindful of the challenges facing the administration, either in the area of economy, security, power, etc. "But we have risen stoutly to the challenges, judiciously utilizing the very scarce resources that we have, and we are making an impact.
"Nigerians are making great sacrifices because they know that today's difficulties are like the pangs heralding the birth of a new baby. Today's pains won't endure, but the new Nigeria that will emerge willsurely do! The people on the other side say infrastructure is not important.
"In their derisive posturing, they ask: 'na infrastructure we go chop?' But they have forgotten the role of infrastructure in economic development via higher productivity and service delivery, job creation and poverty alleviation, just to mention a few. Little wonder they
frittered away the resources of the commonwealth instead of using such to develop our infrastructure during their time in the saddle".
He further said the administration is proud that in its time, Nigerians are once again able to travel by rail, in total comfort and safety. "Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Warri-Itakpe-Ajaokuta and Abuja Metroline are shining examples of our rail revolution. And we are just getting started.
"We have the rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway project that cuts through Rivers, Imo, Anambra, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Gombe, Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states, and the Bonny Deep Sea and Railway Industrial Park.
"We have the Kano-Maradi standard
gauge line that passes through some economic hubs of the country, including Kazaure, Daura, Katsina and up to the border town of Jibiya and the city of Maradi in Niger Republic. We are proud of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure (also known as Deep Blue Asset), aimed at managing, controlling and protecting Nigerian waterways towards the advancement of coastal prosperity.
"We are proud that in our time, long abandoned roads and bridges are either being repaired or built anew. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which is due to be completed this year, is already offering a joyful to happy motorists, saving lives and man hours in the process. Among others, we have already delivered the following roads:
"The 26.27km Nnewi-Uduma Road, Sections I and II in Enugu and Ebonyi States. The 100.08km Kano-Maiduguri Road Section II (Shuwarin-Azare) in Jigawa and Bauchi States. The 106.34km Kano-Maiduguri Road Section III (Azare-Potiskum) in Bauchi and Yobe States. The 24km Vandeikya-Obudu Cattle Ranch Road Phase I and II in Benue and Cross River States. And the 304km Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora-Makera Road.
Alhaji Lai said these are just a part of the over 800 ongoing road (covering 13,000km) and bridge projects (37 of them undergoing maintenance and repairs that have been due for decades) in the country. "In fact, there is at least one road or bridge project in every state of the Federation.
"We are proud that in our time, the 2nd Niger Bridge, which they had built on paper several times, is almost ready for delivery. In addition to the 2nd Niger Bridge, we have built or repaired the following, among others: Ikom Bridge in Cross River Loko-Oweto Bridge in Nasarawa - Ibi Bridge in Taraba and Bamenda-Mfun Bridge linking Nigeria and Cameroon
"Chanchangi Bridge along Takum-Wukari road in Taraba- Koton-Karfe Bridge in Kogi State Bodo Bonny road/Bridge in Rivers We are proud that in our time, we have delivered housing units in 34
states, and they are being commissioned as we speak".
On security, the Minister said he is proud of Nigerian security forces, the men and women in uniform. "Despite a myriad of security challenges, they are living up to the billing. The recent string of successes recorded in the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP is uplifting.
"As the terrorists and their camps are being decimated, thousand of terrorists and their families are surrendering in droves. The effectiveness of the security
forces has been enhanced by the leadership provided by President
Buhari and the unwavering commitment of the armed forces and its leadership.
"The procurement of modern platforms for the armed forces has also gone a long way in raising the level of their operational readiness and efficiency, in addition to boosting their capabilities.
Among others, the Nigerian Army has procured 160 MRAPS, 150 trucks and 60 APCs to improve its equipment holding.
"This is in addition to the provision of accommodation for troops and the recruitment of over 10,000 personnel into the Army. The Nigerian Navy (NN), for its part, commissioned the FALCON EYE Maritime Domain Awareness Capability, the third locally-built Seaward Defense Boat, one helicopter, 4 inshore patrol boats and 90 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats.
"Over 1,500 personnel were recruited into the Navy during the year. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) took delivery of 12 Super Tucanos and 3 JF-17 Thunder Fighter Aircraft and other platforms with which it has conducted several air interdictions, provided close air support to ground troops and destroyed several illegal structures and equipment belonging to terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
The security forces have also taken the battle to the bandits and put them on the run. The effect is that our country is becoming safer every day. Yes, you still have occasional attacks by the bandits. But their ranks are being decimated by the day by our unrelenting security forces", he boldly said.
The Minister addressed the figures being bandied around by the PDP party and a section of the press, comparing the prices of some foodstuffs, petrol, diesel, etc pre-2015 and now. "This misuse of statistics is clear mischief. Those who bandy around these figures without putting them in context are being clever by half.
"Let's take the price of foodstuffs and petrol. Google the price of foodstuffs in other countries, especially the UK and the US, and you will discover a steep rise. Ditto for the price of gas or petrol. What we are saying is that this increase is a global trend, and it's not limited to any country.
"Therefore, presenting it as a Nigerian problem is mischievous, disingenuous and a clear act of misinformation. Let me add that the crippling fuel shortage experienced across the country in recent times has started easing, as the measures put in place by the government begin to work".
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