- President Urges Govt Functionaries to Defend FG’s Accomplishments
- Route, Channel All Meeting Requests, submissions To Me Via Chief Of Staff
By Gbenga Abulude(Politics and General desk)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, reminisced on a question posed to him by the United States President, Mr. Donald Trump, during his official visit to the White House in 2018.
Buhari said when Trump, who is currently seeking re-election in the November 3 US Presidential poll, turned to him and asked him, “why are you killing Christians?”, he was shocked. According to the President, the question was surprising and quite unexpected for him.
Buhari shared his encounter with Trump, while speaking light-heartedly, towards the end of the 2-day Ministerial retreat for Ministers, Heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) at the State House, Abuja.
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The President asked how anyone would have responded to such thought- provoking question, which needed clarification so as not to misinform the leader of the free world.
Recall that in April, 2018, Buhari became the first President from sub-Saharan Africa to visit Donald Trump at the White House and some of the issues which the US was concerned about was the incessant conflict between herdsmen and farmers in the Nigeria’s Middle Belt which had led to loss of lives.
The President while recalling the matter said: “I don’t think I can finish this speech without one or two digressions, which is specifically to you ministers, permanent secretaries and our supporters.
“I believe I was about the only African among the less developed countries that the President of the United States invited. And when I was in his office, only he and myself, he looked at me in the face and said why are you killing Christians, if you were the one I wonder how you will react.
“The problem between cattle rearers and farmers which is older than me not to talk of him (President Donald Trump), because I know I am a couple of years older than him, were happening during that time. And there were issues on Climate change, population growth to discuss then.”
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It would be recalled that President Trump at a joint press conference, he had with President Buhari shortly after their meeting at the White House had said: “We have had very serious problems with Christians who are being murdered in Nigeria. We are going to be working on that problem very, very hard because we cannot allow that to happen.”
Meanwhile, President Buhari in his speech also tasked government functionaries, and all key stakeholders in his government to strongly defend the administration’s policies, programs and accomplishments, stressing that his government has lived up to its expectation.
He noted that his administration was suffering from bad press, and wants this addressed with all commitment. Buhari also sought a greater synergy between all governmental agencies, as this would help in good governance and policy implementation for the rest of the time of the administration.
He added: “I have charged all of you to defend the government vigorously and not allow any irresponsible and politically motivated statements to keep spreading falsehoods about this government. Information to the public should be better packaged, go on the offensive, we are proud of our achievements and we should blow our own trumpets.”
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The President emphasized that all meeting requests or submissions for his attention should be routed or channeled through the Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, while cabinet matters should be channeled through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
He said: “Let me also reiterate that all submissions for my attention or meeting requests should be channeled through the chief of staff, while all Federal Executive council matters should be coordinated through the secretary to the government of the federation.”
“The days of insufficient collaboration, coordination and synergy among implementing ministries, departments and agencies should be over. In this regard, I have directed that essential coordination delivery unit in the office of the secretary of the government of the federation should be revived to ensure we focus on results. The SGF is to ensure regular reports on progress submitted,” the President added.
“I have charged all of you to defend the government vigorously and not allow any irresponsible and politically motivated statements to keep spreading falsehoods about this government,” he stressed.
