The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has described the national broadcast made by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday as outstanding.
Odigie-Oyegun made this assertion on Monday in an interview with journalists in Abuja shortly after the inauguration of a seven-member reconciliation committee for the Kogi State chapter of the APC.
In a brief analysis of the speech which was the first the president made since he returned to the country on Saturday after a medical vacation in London for over 100 days, Odigie-Oyegun said Buhari was indeed quintessential president.
According to him, it was remarkable that he harped on the unity of the country which he said was not negotiable.
He said in his absence, some agents of destabilisation had tried to cause disaffection, but on arrival, he discerned the need to insist on the unity of the country and security of lives and property.
His words: “The speech was absolutely outstanding. You see, he is the President of this nation. He has been away for quite a bit of time. Agents of destabilisation have been very much at work because they thought his absence created a gap and a weakness within the polity which they tried to exploit.
“So, Mr. President in his wisdom discerned that the stability, unity, peace and security of this nation and the ordinary Nigerian are the key issues at this material time. He addressed them and went straight to the core of the issues.
“He left nobody in any doubt that any Nigerian is entitled as a matter of right to live, work and operate in any part of this country. He made it clear and left no one in any doubt that yes, while people can discuss issues and the relationship in the nation, the National Assembly is there to handle such issues.
“But he drew one red line that the only thing that is not on the table is that this nation can be divided. He made it clear that the unity of the Nigerian nation is not up for negotiation of any type.”
The APC national chairman also commented on the president’s position on restructuring.
He said the president was unambiguous when he said much as Nigerians had the right to discuss issues of interest, the issue of the unity of Nigeria was rather settled and could not be negotiated.
“He said quite clearly that you can discuss. The only issue that is out of bounds is the unity of this nation.
“That as the situation is today, the institutions of state that can legitimately deal with any changes in the relativity within the nation is the National Assembly and the National Council of State. It is the National Assembly that makes laws.
“So, the situation is so clear and unambiguous. He did not say you can’t discuss but the only issue that was not on the table is the unity of the Nigerian nation,” he said.
He added that from experience in the recent past, it had become obvious that the ordinary Nigerian was more discerning and knowledgeable than perhaps they were credited for.
According to him, “inspite of all the vile and vicious propaganda, he knew, his heart, soul was always in empathy with our President.”
Next Edition… Always Ahead!
