President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja urged Nigerian elites to show patriotism and offer more sacrifice for the good of the country. The President spoke at the breaking-of-fast dinner with retired and serving Justices of the Supreme Court at the presidential Villa, Abuja.
He regretted that the elites who had benefited from the country had failed to build a better country for posterity, stressing that with the state of the economy, it was incumbent on them to chart a new way forward for Nigeria.
He said: “So, at this age, at the position we are, more demand is made on us to persuade those we know, the elites to please pity this country and make more sacrifices.
“At whatever forum, please persuade our fellow elites to be more patriotic because which kind of country are we leaving for our children and our grand children. “Everybody in the world believed Nigeria has been favoured by God Almighty in terms of material and human resources.
“But, we have failed, woefully failed so far to explore it and thank God for these gifts. “We are in a very, very difficult position now. We came at a time when suddenly we realized, unfortunately that we have through our personal incompetent as Nigerian elites ended up as a mono-economy in spite of the potentiality of this country, which the rest of the world seemed to know more.
“We have observed what happened in the last 15 years. We have enjoyed so much prosperity.
“But, eventually, the thing we looked for most, security, first in the North East, threatened us, secondly, in Niger Delta. “But we know we get the strength to survive it and survive it we must.
“Let us pray to God Almighty that our colleagues outside there that are having the influence with the rest of people and holding the economy sit and reflect and make sure that this country gets what it deserves from its leadership at various stages.
“I hope this will help to digest what we have just eaten.” Retired Justice Salihu Belgore, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the president for inviting them for the dinner, expressing their readiness to work for the good of the country at all times.
(Vanguard)
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