Buhari urges Nigerians to seek change
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari speaks to the press in Paris on September 16, 2015. Buhari, on October 1, 2015, called for an end to “unruly behaviour” in the country, saying progress could not happen without a change in citizens’ attitudes. PHOTO | BERTRAND GUAY | AFP
What you need to know:
- The call, made in his first Independence Day address as civilian president, will likely remind some of his time as military ruler in the 1980s, when he cracked down on so-called “indiscipline”.
- Buhari, elected in March on an agenda for “change”, has been at pains to stress there will be no return to the past, despite claims to the contrary by his political opponents that old habits die hard.
LAGOS
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday called for an end to “unruly behaviour” in the country, saying progress could not happen without a change in citizens’ attitudes.
The call, made in his first Independence Day address as civilian president, will likely remind some of his time as military ruler in the 1980s, when he cracked down on so-called “indiscipline”.
Then, civil servants were made to do star jumps if they were late for work, orderly queueing was enforced, while traders selling goods at above agreed rates were punished.
Buhari, elected in March on an agenda for “change”, has been at pains to stress there will be no return to the past, despite claims to the contrary by his political opponents that old habits die hard.
In a brief televised address to the nation on Thursday, he said: “Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring change about.
“We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behaviour in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks (bus stops), on the roads, in homes and offices.
“To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.”
A SEA OF CHANGE
Buhari, 72, has vowed to tackle rampant corruption in public life, from wholesale looting of oil revenue to government waste in an effort to restore Nigeria’s depleted public finances and international reputation.
He said his election win against Goodluck Jonathan — the first time an opposition candidate has unseated an incumbent president in Nigeria’s 55-year independent history — was a “sea change” in the country’s democracy.
He reaffirmed there will be no witch-hunt or old scores to settle during his presidency but stated: “People should only fear the consequences of their actions.”
On Wednesday, Mr Buhari finally submitted names to serve in his cabinet, four months since taking office and after announcing he intended to take personal charge of the country’s crucial oil portfolio.
The long-awaited list of nominees was submitted to Senate president Bukola Saraki at the National Assembly buildings in Abuja, the leader of the upper chamber of parliament wrote in a tweet.
