President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to Nigerians to bear with his administration as he and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo begin the work of reconstructing the country.
He said the appeal was necessary because of the collateral damage that had been done to the system before they came on board.
Buhari made the appeal in his remarks on Friday at the inauguration gala night held inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The event took place a few hours after he and Osinbajo took their oaths of office and oaths of allegiance before a mammoth crowd at the Eagle Square, Abuja where he promised to be the President of all.
“I ask Nigerians to please bear with us; a lot of damage has been done. You can look at our infrastructure in 1999 and now and you will appreciate this,” he said.
Buhari also regretted the high rate of unemployment among youths who he said represented about 60 per cent of the country’s population.
He said the nation was sitting on a keg of gun powder with that kind of unpleasant situation.
He said his administration would focus on agriculture and mining to engage some of the unemployed youth.
He also asked Nigerians to pray for the country more than they are currently doing.
“Nigeria prays a lot; we need to even pray the more for luck so that the expectations our people have, especially the youth, would be met,” he said.
He promised to seek the supports of Europe, America and Nigeria’s neighbours in tackling the unemployment and security problems confronting the country.
On security, Buhari said his administration would work hard to secure Nigeria.
He said the backlash in neighbouring countries if Nigeria had a crisis would be monumental.
He added, “Nigeria has to be well secured and efficiently managed; this is what the APC is all about.
“This was why the legacy parties made the sacrifice of jettisoning their personal ambitions, tried to come together and took the bull by the horn and therefore brought it down and slaughtered it literally.’’
He said the party in power had realised its problems and made the sacrifice.
He added that his administration would articulate the nation’s requirements after studying the handover notes from the past administration, and then consult neighbouring countries, Europe and US to help the nation.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Nigeria and democracy as the winners of the last general elections.
“Democracy is the winner, and Nigeria is the winner. I congratulate all who made the election possible. I also congratulate former president Goodluck Jonathan for deepening democracy.”
He further said the path of honour Jonathan took would not be forgotten.
He urged the President to recognise the diversity of the country and accommodate all since the nation’s diversity remained its strength.
Similarly, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said a new era had dawned in Nigeria.
He said that a commitment to build a new Nigeria had been consecrated, adding that Buhari is principled, passionate and determined to develop the country.
“The challenge is yours. We that are looking up to you will continue to do so with great commitment, and perseverance,” Tinubu added.
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