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Subsidy Removal speech proposal

for President

Muhammadu Buhari

By ForBeta Nigreria group

Today, it has been over 105 years since our struggle for independence which started in 1910 and was
realized by a brave set of Nigerian leaders of the time including Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikwe (to mention a few) On October 1, 1960 after 50 years of struggle. At
the time the cumulative processes and efforts to attain independence gathered momentum year after
year, and eventually our people reaped the harvest of what we had sowed. As we learned, the success
of that harvest depended upon all of us as everyone of us had a part to play in the work of preparing
Nigeria for Independence which was initially expected on the 2nd of April, 1960. Indeed this was no
easy task, it required the Federal and Regional Ministers and legislators as well as every citizen. It was
a task for everyone of us because it was only by the personal effort of each individual that
Independence for the Federation become a reality in 1960.
As we further learned from Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, we had decided to take our place among the
responsible nations (International Community?) of the world, we made every effort to see that this aim
was achieved by gaining international recognition as a progressive self governed State. Nigeria had
reached a pivotal stage in its history and we were able to seize the opportunity to demonstrate that we
could manage our own affairs properly. This required every Nigerian, regardless of status, ethnicity or
religion, to contribute his or her own portion to the task of achieving independence for a Nation with
adequate power, good roads, mass transportation including rail, abundance of food from agricultural
activities, positive balance of trade with a strong currency and high employment.
Indeed, we inherited a great country with vast resources, sufficient infrastructure, a strong economy
from diverse export proceeds including Cocoa, Groundnut, Timber, Oil and more which lasted till the
late 1970s. At the time, despite the negative effects of the civil war the Naira was stronger than the
Dollar, we were masters of production and we tutored many countries including Malaysia on palm oil
production. But today we lag behind in global competitiveness in most sectors, even in areas where we
were once strong including Oil and Gas products like petrol. Perhaps, after the oil boom of the 70s we
became spoiled and became less passionate about real planning for development and good management
of our resources which led us to where we are today. Lets not rush to adopt new quick fixes and
temporary bandages to our problems.
From the on-set as a government we've consulted with experts both local and international on issues
that affect all of us, on corruption and looted funds, petroleum subsidy and inherent scarcity, our
nation's economy, and issues of terrorism by Boko Haram. Consequently, you've heard more and more
about what the government thinks or what the government should be doing and less and less about our
development, welfare of the people, our dreams, and our hopes for the future.
In the past year since assuming office these issues have had a constant need for immediate resolution,
even though they have all been inherited from previous administration. At first it was the empty
treasury stemmed from massive corrupt practices by public officials. Secondly, it was Boko Haram
gains in insurgent activities that led to seizure and control of some 14 local governments. And thirdly
the economy was hindered by empty treasury, state governments inability to pay salaries and some
even after bailouts. For the fourth, which was looming along with the earlier issues was the petroleum
scarcity which was a result of massive corruption in the sector, petro-marketers unfair and illegal
practices such as hording and diversion of products to neighboring countries and finally, the often

lengthy but avoidable bureaucratic bottlenecks between the legislators and executive on the budget.
However, in a democracy, as much as some of us might have been trained to establish order before
speed, we find that even when order is achieved quickly, speed is often stalled by components of
democratic processes which are imposed by law. Despite all attempts, the urgency of the need to
deliver our promise as an elected government could not be better appreciated by those of us who steer
the ship of change for a better Nigeria. Almost on a daily basis, I often ponder on the same question
that I now know has been troubling many of you. Why have we not been able to get together as a
nation to resolve our serious problems before now?
It's clear that the true problems of our Nation are much deeper than petroleum scarcity, power outages,
looting of public funds, devaluation of the Naira and now terrorism. And I realize more than ever that
as president of this nation we need all the help we can get in making things right. But then I came to
accept that this is perhaps one of the most important periods for our country. At the same time, it has
also been the most demanding that I have experienced. There have been several satisfying events and
some disturbing ones, too.
Perhaps the most satisfying of this is that during this period one was able to weld the government
together in certain aspects in a more cohesive way than it had been in the past, such as merging of some
of the ministries, and that we took bold and, in some cases, rewarding decisions in terms of our plans
for growth with the highest budget in history as a whole and for capital projects so as to help boost the
economy.
It would have been highly appreciated if commodities markets globally had been more favorable, but
sometimes as history has shown in the past, some us only get a chance to lead during difficult times.
This, unfortunately, has been the case for this government and that reality might not be so satisfactory.
As your president and commander in-chief, the people's welfare is my most important mission to
release. This includes the protection of life and property, a healthy body nurtured by good food,
adequate shelter, decent clothing, a relative measure of comfort and luxury, and a clean and safe
environment. As citizens we must all enjoy freedom of expression, equal rights and justice for all.
Although, the times are different and far apart but similar in the nature of the challenge. Therefore, I
appeal to everyone, to work with me and our government to re-create a better Nigeria for all of us and
the generations to come, the cause for which no sacrifice will be too great. Perhaps, the reality of the
spike in the cost of living stemming from the drastic drop of Crude Oil prices and the subsequent return
to petrol scarcity like in the 1990s experienced in last few months can force a wave of intellectual
debates towards long lasting solutions rather than sweep the problem under the carpet with corruption
ridden subsidies.
In the words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, "After rain comes sunshine; After darkness comes the
glorious dawn. There is no sorrow without its alloy of joy; there is no joy without its admixture of
sorrow. Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of
prosperity. So, tear the mask! Our youths continue to be educated as graduates and there are no jobs,

and pressured into alternative means of survival that doesn't make them proud of their country, as most
youth prefer to leave their own country for greener pastures elsewhere. In the early days of our
independence this was not so, we must return to ensuring training for Jobs and sustainable job creation
for the youths.
We must put an end to this endless cycle of misdirected funds from fuel subsidies to full petroleum
independence to realize self sustenance in refinery capability and beyond. I challenge our leaders to be
develop bold, effective and sustainable ideas like those of other transformed nations from 3rd world to
1st world like that of Lee Kuan Yew, of Singapore who In 1994, proposed to link the salaries of
ministers, judges, and top civil servants to the salaries of top professionals in the private sector, arguing
that this would help recruit and retain talent to serve in the public sector. They can then be expected to
ensure high standards in our schools with compulsory enrollment of their children in public schools.
In capital expenditure how do we ensure continuity? Some administrations may be having their last
tenure, to whose benefit or loss is the abandonment or cancellation of capital expenditure projects?
Such projects become waste of public funds, cause sudden disruption in employment of youths,
negative impact on community development and become a hindrance to securing local or foreign long
term low interest loans. Ultimately, without continuity we keep moving backwards as most projects
dont get completed quickly enough or never altogether. We must put together the right legislation to
enable continuity of all projects which will benefit all current office holders efforts and the respective
communities they intend to develop.
Let me borrow more words from another worthy leader, Mahatma Gandhi, who experienced challenges
of a time of questioning like that of our own. With God as my supreme, and sole counsellor, I felt that
I must take the decision without any other adviser. If I made a mistake and discover it, I shall have no
hesitation in proclaiming it from the housetop and retracing my faulty step. There is clear indication, as
I claim there is, of the Inner Voice, it will not be gainsaid. I plead for all absence of argument and
inevitable endorsement of the step. We are in Gods hands. Rather, they should turn the searchlights
inwards, for this is essentially a testing time for all of us. Those who remain at their post of duty and
perform it diligently and well, now more so than hitherto, will help me and the cause in every way.
Those who differ from me will be honored by me for their resistance however implacable.
Our past lessons teach us that our progress has been highly disrupted by realms of degrading and
depraving evils such as unemployment; mass ignorance; low productivity; abuse and misuse of power,
bribery and corruption; favouritism and nepotism; ethnocentricity and tribalism; much poverty and
much discontent.
According to Dr Nnnmadi Azikwe, the very diversity of our peoples, and customs and languages,
means that we have much to contribute to each other. If we can keep the larger vision in view, if we do
not spoil the opportunity that lies before us by petty and inglorious side issues, these African States
may yet achieve what the independent and warring States of Europe and the volatile and sometimes
undemocratic States of the Americas have not yet accomplished, that is, a unity undreamt-of; and
become models of honest and democratic government, which will give hope to all Africa and offer a
challenge to the rest of the world.
The truth is our palliative measures of the past to fix the economy over night don't seem to last, no
president in our democratic era can claim to have managed the economy well enough to achieve a
positive balance of payments. If so how can any substantive economic gains be easily eroded by a

mere few years by a handful of dishonest individuals? Our Naira has always undergone devaluation, it
is time to start reversing the endless trend so as to create millions of jobs for the youths who will take
over from us. Therefore, we must work hard as we did towards independence, and work to produce
and compete in the global market to become a major foreign currency earner as opposed to an import
dependent economy. We must strive for pride, in capability and efficiency of our work force, in high
standard quality made in Nigeria products, and thereby achieve complete self sufficiency and
sustenance for our country as a whole. So lets join hands to support the right aspects of the economy by
enhancement of production and reduction of cost of goods through sustainable strategies. Our
government will continue to be open to dialogue through our respective offices and our town hall
meetings to ensure that we get things right once and for all and not rush into same bandage patch
solutions of the past that take us nowhere and keeps us wallowing in the same problems of the past
such as with epileptic power, weak Naira, petrol scarcity and more.

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