You are no Longer a Military Ruler, Lagos Monarch Tells Buhari

The Oba of Lagos on Monday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be civil in his approach to governance, saying he should realise that he is no longer a military man.

Even as the monarch said former Goodluck Jonathan could not be totally blamed for the nation’s current economic crisis, he sought support for President Buhari and expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to salvage the economy.

He spoke in Lagos during the unveiling of SunTrust Bank Limited, the first commercial bank to be licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 15 years.

Akiolu said, “All of us just have to support the President and I advise him to know that he is no more a military man. I am not afraid to say that. The measures they are taking on the rot of the past, honestly whether they like it or not, it was not totally the fault of former President Goodluck Jonathan. I don’t hide the fact that he (Jonathan) is my personal friend.”

The President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Forte Oil, Femi Otedola; and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje, were among top dignitaries that witnessed the unveiling of SunTrust Bank.

Dangote, who was a special guest of honour at the event, described as a bold move the decision by the Board of Directors and management of SunTrust Bank to open a new bank at a time the global banking industry and major economies were facing serious challenges.

The lack of growth in major economies, declining commodity prices, and weakness in the Nigerian economy, according to the Africa’s richest man, are some of the challenges facing today’s businesses.

He, however, noted that the challenges could be converted into opportunities by forward-looking and proactive companies and businessmen.

Dangote said this informed his decision to invest in Nigeria and other African countries and listed some of his ongoing investment projects in Lagos to include Africa’s largest fertliser plant with capacity for three million tonnes, and the world’s largest single line of refinery.