Buhari Inherited A Country In Tatters – Garba Shehu

Malam Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesperson, has begged the Igbo leaders to view themselves as partners with the federal government in promoting peace and stability in the country.

According to him, Buhari’s message to all community leaders including the Ohanaeze is that they have a big role to play in what happens in their communities and in how their youths behave.

“President Buhari was not abdicating his responsibilities. He didn’t request any political leader to do anything seminal or out of the box.

“All he says is, talk to your out-of-the-line-youth so that we have some peace.

“Igbo leaders need not to be on the defensive for the misbehaviour of the IPOB which they rightly condemned,’’ he said.

“This should not be seen as an attack on the Ohaneze or on any other regional leaders.’’

“It beats our imagination that men claiming to be democrats or having democratic credentials are asking the government to ignore an elected parliament in preference to a committee made up of presidential appointees to debate and resolve constitutional issues.

“You are either for democracy or for its opposite. For us in this government, democracy is the country’s chosen system of government and we are determined to deepen and uphold it.

“Democracy may be slow and chaotic, but it remains the best system of government the world has got so far,’’ he added.

“We inherited a country in tatters- its economy, its security and its social relations.

“President Buhari deserves credit for rebuilding what has been destroyed.

“If anyone thinks this a failure, let them talk to those millions of farmers we have empowered to create riches for themselves and the nation, for whom fertilizer is available everywhere at the regulated price of N5,500 instead of N13,800, a year ago.

“Let them ask the manufacturers and importers of goods who bought the Dollar at N525:00 and are happy that it is down to N360:00 and still improving.

“Let them go back and read the accomplishments highlighted in the speech, to see the advancements in security, agriculture, the ease of doing business and anti-corruption, to mention a few,’’ he stressed.