Extraordinary Times Require Extraordinary Actions

Being the text of an address of welcome by the
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief
John Odigie Oyegun, at a two-day retreat for all APC
Senators-elect at the Ibeto Hotel in Abuja on Saturday,
May 23rd 2015
Protocols

Let me formally welcome our party’s torchbearers in
the upper chamber of the incoming 8th National
Assembly to this retreat.
This is the first formal interaction between our
Senators-elect and the leadership of our party, since the
conclusion of the 2015 General Elections.

While I congratulate all of you on your elections, I must
quickly add that I don’t envy you. This is because you
are being called to service at one of the most
challenging periods in the history of our nation.

Unparalleled commitment, uncommon patriotism,
unprecedented hard work and indeed a reservoir of
your innermost strength will be required, as our party
takes the centre stage in the next few days and begins
to implement its programmes for the benefit of the long
suffering people.

Make no mistake about it, the days ahead will be tough,
and this is not crying wolf.
From the first day of this government, a total of 4.1
trillion Naira will be required for sundry expenses,
including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at
federal and state levels and debt servicing, just to
mention a few.
Put this against the background of the falling oil prices,
the unprecedented 60-billion-dollar debt which the
outgoing government has left for the incoming one, the
largely depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA), the 60
billion dollars that have been lost in the last four years
to crude oil theft (and which are perhaps still being lost
as we speak), the need to rapidly create jobs for our
teeming army of unemployed youths, enhance the
security of the citizenry and improve the economy, and
you will begin to understand the enormity of the
challenges ahead.

This is not a lamentation forum, but still, we must tell
ourselves the truth about the state of the nation, and
the expectations of our people.
In fact, to a number of our compatriots, by May 30th, a
day after the swearing of our President-elect, all the
streets in Nigeria will be air conditioned while electricity
will become stable and fuel scarcity will be a thing of
the past.
Yes, we will get there, but it won’t happen overnight.
You, our Senators-elect, will be called upon to take
extraordinary actions to address the extraordinary
challenges that confront our nation.

The incoming President, more than anyone else, needs
the support and cooperation of the 8th National
Assembly to fulfill his campaign promise to Nigerians.
You may be required to pass important bills at very
short notices. This will not be unprecedented but will
require a buy-in to the programmes of the President
and the Party and a willingness to work with him and
the party for the benefit of all Nigerians. The demands
on you will be tasking, but you are up to the task!
Fortunately we have the numbers, even though we
believe that a bipartisan effort – to which we are open

- will be a better deal
And there is good news! You, our Senators-elect, share
in the dreams of the President and our party to make
our country great again.
May I also remind you that all eyes will be on our party

-and by extension on all of you – to see if our
government will walk its talk in terms of running a lean
and effective government, one that eschews waste,
corruption and indiscipline, and one that will harness
the nation’s human, material and natural resources for
the well being of the people.
Finally, let me end on a note of caution.

There is no magic wand to make our economy better
overnight. Against the realities on the ground, some of
which I listed earlier, reviving our economy will be a
long and tortuous process. Bold decisions will need to
be taken, and this can only be possible if there is a
synergy among our party, the National Assembly and
the President. We know you will not fail us, and you
will not fail Nigerians.
Well, the 1921 Nobel Laureate for Physics, Dr. Albert
Einstein, must have had a moment like this in mind,
while responding to a question.
He was asked: “Dr. Einstein, why is it that when the
mind of man has stretched so far as to discover the
structure of the atom, we have been unable to devise
the political means to keep the atom from destroying
us?”

His answer: “That is simple, my friend. It is because
politics is more difficult than physics.”
Now that you know the nobility of the calling in which
you have found yourselves, I am sure you will not
hesitate to show that politicians too can solve
problems!

source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/there-is-no-magic-wand-to-make-our-economy-better-overnight-oyegun/

yes we all know and will be patient till at least december to know were we are and were wr are heading to
God bless APC

Excellent speech from the chairman! All hands must be on desk

*blocks my ears*


No stories

You must perform all you promised us.
You better look for a magic wand sharp sharp

You and I, the youths are the needed magic. Though it may not happen overnight, but I tell you, the bright future of this country lies in our hands, not in the hands of the expired prof/politician.
We have young prof, if one is needed, young politician are around, but we are not given the chance to proof ourself.
Soonest, the revolution to a great Nation as expected will start.
God bless Nigeria.
#itbeginswithyou.

APC should better take their time and do things well and dont give a Bleep about noise and distractn. Not d sure p kinda jobs. Mining is the best way 2go. AJAOKUTA steel company is waiting please BABA

ozoigbondu1:
yes we all know and will be patient till at least december to know were we are and were wr are heading to
God bless APC

Pirate of the carabeans

Chai, these broom wielding witches and wizards are really insulting our intelligence after sabotaging the former govt. they re just trying to tell us that they have no idea what to do next......Mr. Oyegun pls no excuse.
APC must fight corruption
APC mus make one Naira equal one Dollar
APC must stabilise oil prices
APC must create 3 million jobs every year
APC must pay unemployed youths
APC must destroy Boko Haram in 6 months
We no wan hear say dem shoot bird the mama fly