The National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress Congress,
APC, John Oyegun, has warned
senators elected on the party’s
platform that they are coming into
office at at one of the most
challenging periods in the history
of Nigeria.
Mr. Oyegun gave the warning on
Saturday while opening a retreat
organised for the elected
lawmakers at Ibeto Hotel in Abuja.
“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,” Mr. Oyegun
said at the first formal gathering
of the elected APC lawmakers.
The APC chairman said from the
first day in office of the incoming
government, a total of N4.1
trillion will be required for sundry
expenses, including oil subsidy
payment, arrears of salaries at
federal and state levels and debt
servicing. He added that these
challenges are against the
background of the falling global
oil prices, the $60 billion debt
which the outgoing government
has left for the incoming one, the
largely depleted Excess Crude
Account, the billions lost in the last
four years to crude oil theft, the
need to rapidly create jobs for the
nation’s teeming army of
unemployed youth, and to enhance
the security of the citizenry and improve the
economy.
“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,”
he said.
Mr. Oyegun said some Nigerians expect that “all
the streets in Nigeria will be air conditioned
while electricity will become stable and fuel
scarcity will be a thing of the past,” from the
first day President-elect Muhammadu Buhari is
sworn in.
“Yes, we will get there, but it won’t happen
overnight,” he said. “You, our Senators-elect,
will be called upon to take extraordinary
actions to address the extraordinary challenges
that confront our nation.”
Mr. Oyegun reiterated that Mr. Buhari would
need the full support of the 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,” he said.
Mr. Oyegun also informed the lawmakers that
like Mr. Buhari, Nigerians would focus their
attention on the APC and the lawmakers
themselves.
He said Nigerians would love to see how the
APC would practice what it preached, such as
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.
He warned that there is no magic wand to make
the Nigerian 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,” he said.

Shut up n make nigeria a paradise that u promised to turn Nigeria. GEJ my HERO! FAYOSE my ROLE MODEL!!

No Nigerian president is above criticism.
We will criticize Gen.Buhari if he fails to perform.. There will be no
"honeymoon period".