By Ahmed Idris
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday mocked former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Godsday Orubebe, over his drama and protest during collation of results of the 2015 Presidential elections at the International Conference Centre, Abuja
Reflecting on events leading to the conduct and announcement of the results of the 2015 general elections at the 2018 Democracy Day lecture at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, the President said he was surprised that the organisers of the programme did not invite the former minister for the event.
He said inviting Orubebe would would have afforded him the opportunity to listen to the former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Jega’s lecture on good governance.
“Here I must digress to raise an observation my the programme’s organisers because I did not see Mr Orubebe who ought to have come and listen to Prof. Jega delivering this lecture. This is a major observation. That instance, for those of us, who were lucky that there was light, and we have the television to see the confrontation between Mr Orubebe and Professor Jega, it will make a life impression as it’s made in some of us,” he said.
The President also spoke on corruption, stressing that the present administration would not relent in its efforts to eliminate the menace of corruption in spite of the strong opposition against such moves in some quarters.
He said the country’s security situation had greatly improved against the background of what the present government had inherited in 2015.
“Incidences of bombings in towns and villages have been drastically curtailed, series of plots have been averted with many culprits arrested through the vigilance, patriotism and professionalism of security agencies,” he said.
He said government would continue to equip and prepare troops to confront agents of violence, until total victory is attained.
The President also said that the economy had been improving with government achieving its objectives including increased food production and food security, rapid economic diversification into sectors that were hitherto neglected or under explored.
He said the country’s foreign reserves had also reached new heights.
