As Nigeria grapples with the World Bank’s urging to raise the petrol pump price to a staggering N750/litre, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has fervently praised former President Muhammadu Buhari for steadfastly championing the interests of the masses in the face of daunting pressures.
Against the backdrop of admonitions from the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) cautioning the government against yielding to the World Bank’s counsel, Okechukwu, speaking on behalf of the Buharists, extolled Buhari’s unwavering stand against the World Bank’s policies that are deemed detrimental to the populace.
In a heartfelt tribute to the former president on his 81st birthday, Okechukwu saluted Buhari’s exemplary qualities, particularly hailing his pro-people agenda and modest lifestyle.
A distinguished Buharist and former Director General of Voice of Nigeria (DG, VON), Okechukwu reminisced on Buhari’s unwavering dedication to serving the common man. He underscored Buhari’s strategic initiatives, including the marshal plan devised to address the pressing issue of food security in the country, lamenting the setbacks inflicted by insurgency on Nigeria’s pursuit of self-sufficiency in food production.
“This is an opportune moment to reflect on his policies in favor of the people, his steadfast resistance to the World Bank’s harmful policies, even during his tenure as a military Head of State,” Okechukwu expressed. “Billions of naira in bailout funds were allocated to state governments, social investment programs, efforts to mitigate infrastructural shortcomings, and Buhari’s groundbreaking agricultural revolution aimed at enhancing the prosperity of Nigerians.”
Positing Buhari’s fervent passion for ensuring food security, Okechukwu highlighted the former president’s unparalleled investment in agriculture, surpassing the endeavors of any federal government post-1970. Despite this, he lamented that tangible progress towards food security was hampered by pervasive insecurity, echoing Buhari’s belief that “we must produce what we eat.”
In an earnest appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Okechukwu urged a continuation of Buhari’s commendable programs, especially the Agrarian Revolution such as the Green Imperative Program, designed to mechanize agriculture nationwide, and the Anchor Borrowers Programme, under any suitable appellation.
“We are heartened by President Tinubu’s pledge to uphold our icon’s undertakings, as this would be a fitting homage to the legacy of this exceptional Nigerian leader who champions the cause of the less privileged and the welfare of the nation,” Okechukwu concluded.
By seamlessly intertwining celebratory remembrance with a firm call to uphold the torch of progress, Okechukwu’s tribute stands as a testament to Buhari’s enduring legacy and a clarion call for continued commitment to pro-people policies, even in the face of global pressures.
