The minority caucus of Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber has picked holes in President Muhammadu Buhari’s address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The opposition lawmakers in a statement on Saturday, which was signed by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and sent to DAILY POST, lamented that Buhari’s address was laced with lies and issues presented were in disagreement with the ugly reality of the failures of his administration.
The caucus said Nigeria’s economic, security and social ruins under Buhari’s watch were obvious.
“Our caucus holds that President Buhari’s speech is a great disservice to our nation by not presenting the true picture of affairs in our country; the human rights violations, corruption and incompetence in his administration; the excruciating hardship, escalated insecurity, national divisiveness and infrastructural decay under his watch, thereby blocking avenues for desired intervention in our various ailing sectors.
“The Minority caucus was alarmed by President Buhari’s report to UNGA that terrorists have been so weakened in Nigeria that they are now preying on soft targets, when in reality, insurgents have become so emboldened under his watch, that they are now attacking military formations, kidnapping and killing our gallant officers while overrunning communities and murdering our citizens without restrain.”
The lawmakers noted that the speech wasn’t a reflection of kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria, adding that they were saddened over the misrepresentation.
The statement added, “The speech did not reflect on the closure of schools and crippling of education in many parts of our country, where normal life has been destroyed by terrorists, neither did it show any empathy towards the victims of terrorism attacks.
“Our caucus is worried that in reflecting on violent conflicts, Mr. President’s address conveyed no personal commitments that can guarantee an end to poor and undemocratic governance, human rights abuses, poverty, ignorance, injustice and inequalities, that are prevalent under his watch, even after identifying such as the causes of conflicts.
“Also, the minority caucus is shocked by the claims in Mr. President’s speech that his administration “built” isolation centers and emergency hospital wards, “all over the country” “in record time” in the fight against Covid-19; a claim that is in conflict with the infrastructural reality in the country.
“Moreover, our caucus is worried that Mr. President’s speech did not portray any decisive roadmap towards economic recovery and food security; had no personal commitment to end corruption in his administration; had no personal commitment to end borrowing or show a clear-cut plan to repay the huge debt being accumulated by his administration.
”The speech also lacked definite personal commitments towards credible electoral process especially as the nation approaches 2023 general election.
“The Minority caucus, after due consideration, urges President Buhari to always cross check the content given to him by his handlers so as to ensure that his position, especially on the world stage, captures the reality as well as aspiration prevalent in the country.
“The caucus fears that the nation might lose the needed intervention, since President didn’t open up on his incapacitation on myriad of challenges confronting the citizens.”
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