President National Address: Nigerians React

UNDEDSS: Buhari's Speech Disconnected from Reality in Nigeria

The United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s national broadcast to the nation has portrayed him as being very disconnected from the reality of the present state of the nation.

In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Uranta, in Lagos, UNDEDSS said Buhari’s emphases on the jaded mantra of Nigeria's unity being non-negotiable made them  wonder if Nigerians would have real value added to their lives by the president's return.

“His speech was devoid of empathy with the sad state in which Nigerians have been battering through hunger, terror attacks and bombardment of mendacious propaganda.

“While one is sincerely happy that president is back to Nigeria after that lengthy sojourn in London, one is tempted to believe that he may not be fully aware of the realities in the country he left behind for over three months.

“It pains one to see that Buhari is determined to stand on the wrong side of history as regards the inevitability of Nigeria being restructured before 2019.

“It is evident from his broadcast that the single most important issue President Buhari recognises is the issue of our unity being ‘non-negotiable; which is laughable because this country's unity must be debated and a consensus reached by the leaders of the various political, economic, religious and cultural leanings.

Don't Be Distracted, NUPENG Tells Buhari

The National Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ branch of the National

Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),  Otunba Salmon

Oladiti, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to be distracted but should remain focused to his administration commitment to put the economy in good shape and ultimately, turn around the fortunes of Nigerians.

The NUPENG boss stated this in a statement he signed and made available to journalists in Abuja.

Oladiti who expressed concern on negative comments on the state of

the president’s health  while he was out of the country,  said he was excited that certain individuals who were playing god that Buhari’s health had worsen and that he would not return have been put to shame.

He said: "Now that Buhari is back in the country, we are waiting for those who promised to commit suicide to do so.

 “It was clear to discerning Nigerians when certain opposition elements and groups were staging protests; we knew corruption was fighting back.

"Those who stole the nation common wealth in the past administration were not happy with the new lease of life, the transparency and openness in governance.

HURIWA: Nigeria's Unity Still Unfinished Business

...Seeks legislation against health tourism

A human rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Monday said Nigeria’s unity “is an unfinished business,” therefore faulting President Muhammadu Buhari’s remark that Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable.

The group, also sought legislation against health tourism, noting that Buhari’s medical sojourn for three months in the United Kingdom was not far-reaching and not re-assuring.

These were contained in a statement by HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Director of media Miss. Zaniab Yusuf.

In its statement, the group faulted Buhari’s assertion that the unity of Nigeria “is non-negotiable. Such statements are offensive to the provisions of universal declarations of human rights and the international covenant on civil and political rights.”

The statement added that Nigeria's unity “is not cast in iron and is open to continuous negotiations, restructuring and reworking since the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 which produced the geographical entity called Nigeria was done by the British colonial overlords without the democratic inputs of our forefathers.

“Even the United Kingdom that gave us the independence is open to the possible breakup through the democratic referendum by one of the component parts known as Scotland. In life, one basic fact that is permanent is change.”

Onwubiko said Buhari’s speech was silent on the amount of public fund committed to his medical treatment in the UK and payment of parking fees for the presidential jet and expenses on the retinue of aides that spent months in London at public expense.