Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari,
has listed two major evils bedeviling the
continent of Africa.


Speaking during the opening session of the
25th Assembly of Heads of State and
government of the African Union (AU) held
in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 14,
Buhari encouraged fellow African leaders to
work together to find a lasting solution to
the challenges.
READ the full speech below as obtained
from Vanguard:
This is a statement by Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria at the
opening session of the 25th Assembly of
Heads of State and Government of the
African union Johannesburg, South Africa
14th June 2015
Excellency President Robert Mugabe,
Chairman of the Union, Excellency
President Jacob Zuma, our Host,
Excellencies fellow Presidents and Heads of
Government
Excellency Mr. Jan Eliasson, Deputy
Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
Chairperson of the AU Commission,
Excellencies, Heads of Delegation, Invited
Guests, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
Please permit me to join previous speakers
in conveying my delegation’s appreciation
to our host, H.E. President Jacob Zuma, to
his Government, and the brotherly people
of South Africa for their warm hospitality,
and for the excellent arrangements made
for our comfort and for the success of our
meetings. As this is my first address at this
august assembly, may I also congratulate
H.E. Dr. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President
of the Republic of Zimbabwe, for his
unanimous election as the Chairman of our
Union.


2. I feel highly honoured and extremely
pleased to be able to address you today,
barely two weeks after my inauguration as
the President of Nigeria, following the 2015
Presidential election in my country. That
process, which was adjudged as the fairest
and most credible in the history of elections
in Nigeria, was midwifed by the dogged and
sustained determination of the Nigerian
people, and their desire to deepen our
democracy. Their quest was amply
supported, and even encouraged by the
goodwill of our friends and partners in the
international community. I therefore wish
to seize this opportunity to convey my very
deep appreciation to all those who
contributed to the success of that election.


3. My election has been described as
historic. I agree that it is indeed historic
because for the first time in the practice of
democracy in my country, an opposition
Party has defeated the ruling Party in a
keenly contested election. The election was
also held against the backdrop of the fears
and concerns expressed both in Nigeria and
among our international friends abroad and
partners that the outcome of the election
could spell doom for Nigeria. I am glad that
even though those fears and concerns were
not without basis, the outcome was totally
different, to the relief of all of us.


4. I cannot fail to acknowledge the very
positive role played by my predecessor,
H.E. President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in
averting the feared crisis, and in facilitating
the peaceful transition of power between
the two parties. I also wish to express my
deep appreciation to all who honoured us
with their presence at my inauguration, and
even those, who for unavoidable reasons
were unable to attend. I thank you all.
Mr. Chairman,


5. It is gratifying to note that our Union
has made laudable progress over the past
one and a half decades since its
transformation from the Organization of
African Unity (OAU) to the African Union
(AU). Notably, we have been able to
redirect our priorities at the continental
level from mainly political goals to more
diverse aspirations that are equally
fundamental to our survival and
development in a global community.


6. It is however clear, Mr. Chairman, that
some of the greater challenges to our
peoples within this Union still lie in the
political, economic, as well as peace and
security spheres. Our continent is currently
bedevilled by the twin evils of terrorism
and insecurity; poverty, youth
unemployment, and underdevelopment. The
destructive effects of the inhuman and
criminal campaigns of the Boko Haram
insurgency in Nigeria and neighbouring
countries; the Al-Shabab attacks in East
Africa, and the activities of the Al-Qaida in
the Maghreb, all bear testimony to a
continent under siege.
Mr Chairman, Excellencies and Colleagues


7. On our part, I was convinced on my
assumption of office that the best approach
would be to work within the framework of
the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) to
mobilse collective support to fight against
Boko Haram. I have in this regard, directed
the relocation of Nigeria’s Command Centre
to place it closer to the theatre of action.
Furthermore, I have vigorously engaged the
members states of the LCBC to better
coordinate the strategies and tactics in
fighting the insurgency in the region. I
believe that this approach can be enhanced
through complimentary regional and
continental efforts.
8. The images in the international mass


media of African youths getting drowned in
the Mediterranean sea on their illegal
attempts, and often times illusory hope of
attaining better life in Europe is not only an
embarrassment to us as leaders, but
dehumanises our persons. Indeed, they
combine to paint a very unfavourable
picture of our peoples and countries.


9. Those of us gathered here today owe it as
a duty to reverse this ugly trend. We must
put an end to the so-called push factors
that compel our young men and women to
throw caution to the winds and risk life,
limbs and all, on this dangerous adventure.
We must redouble our efforts to sustain the
economic development of our countries,
ensure empowerment of our youths, create
more jobs, improve and upgrade our
infrastructure, and above all continue the
enthronement of a regime of democracy,
good governance and respect for human
rights and rule of law. These and other
measures that engender peace and stability
must be pursued relentlessly.


10. In this connection, we must persist in
our collective endeavour to work together
through the African Union and our
respective Regional Economic Communities
(RECs), to uplift our continent and provide
the African peoples the enabling
environment for the realization of their
legitimate dreams and aspirations. At this
juncture, let me assure you of the
unflinching commitment of Nigeria to the
ideals and aspirations of the African Union
as explained in the Agenda 2063, which is
geared towards ensuring a peaceful,
prosperous and integrated Africa in the next
50 years. It is for this reason that Nigeria is
fully and irrevocably committed to the
ECOWAS vision.


11. We do so because we believe that
African integration is best attained through
the instrumentality of our Regional
Economic Communities (RECs) as the
building blocs of viable continental
institutions. Nigeria will therefore continue
to play her part in supporting the African
Union Commission and other continental
and regional institutions in their efforts to
prioritize African development in all sectors
of human endeavour.


12. The journey might look arduous, but
certainly not impossible. There are
opportunities in every challenge. If and
when we adopt this call for a change of
attitude, approach, and disposition towards
agreed protocols and commitments, we
shall be bequeathing a politically stable,
economically developed, and socially
harmonious Africa, thereby justifying the
confidence reposed in us by our electorates.
We will also demonstrate our qualities as
statesmen and true daughters and sons of
Africa.

13. I thank you for your kind attention


http://www.naij.com/460968-read-the-full-speech-of-president-buhari-at-au-summit.htmlh

sai baba is indeed d only nigeria president that has inspired many with x speech not d daft idiot who will always says when i am schooling in OTUEKE i had no shoes