President Buhari has expressed sadness at the level
of poverty in Nigeria. Speaking when he hosted Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo,
Ministers, Service Chiefs, Heads of Security Agencies and Chief Executives of
Federal Government Agencies and Institutions to a breaking of fast at the
Presidential Villa, Abuja last night, President Buhari said what upsets him
when he drives around the country is the level of poverty he sees.
“When I drive around the country what upset me very
much is the status of our poor people in this country. You see young people,
the so-called Almajiris with tore dresses, with plastic bowl. They are looking
basically for what to eat. The question of education (to them) is a luxury. I
think Nigerian elite we are all failing because I think we should have a
programme that will at least guarantee some basic education for our people no
matter how poor they are.
“So, I welcome the Vice-President for initiating the
School feeding programme. If you check in your localities the enrolment into
schools improved because a lot of children can get at least one good meal a
day. This is the position of this country. But, culturally some of us are quiet
merciless, we don’t care about what happen to others we just keep on moving
forward.
“This `market money’ I warned the Vice-President I
don’t like him to be mobbed, especially the way I see hefty women coming and
confronting him, he should be very careful. These are very good initiatives.
Initially, I was quite reluctant but I must admit that they are very good
programmes and they endear this government to a lot of poor people because of
these N5,000 or N10,000 being given to them as loans. They are fantastic
programmes and I have to admit quite honestly that the Vice-President was ahead
of me by insisting on them. But he knows me if he insists I will say `okay go
and do what you like.’ He did it and I’m very pleased as he is being very
successful,’’ he said.
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