President Muhammadu Buhari warned incoming state governors on Monday to keep their campaign promises or face the repercussions in the 2019 general election.
President Buhari’s keynote presentation at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Induction of Governors in Abuja urged them to find inventive and prudent ways to handle their constituents’ daily challenges.
Mr. President’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, emphasised the consolidation of Nigeria’s democratic process and urged the newly elected Governors to keep their pledges.
President Buhari praised the March 2023 general election, which elected a new president and 18 governors, and stressed that democracy in Nigeria is alive and well.
After the elections, President Buhari urged elected officials to fulfil their campaign promises and construct their ideal country.
The President reaffirmed that democracy is a dynamic process that requires participants to constantly reflect on and enhance its important features to promote inclusivity and restore voter faith. He stressed patience, tolerance, and using proper methods to seek restitution for electoral abuses.
President Buhari reminded the incoming governors that they would lead their states for four years starting May 29.
He stressed that they would inherit their states’ assets and responsibilities and asked them to work hard and trust the electorate.
President Buhari warned that public officials who failed to deliver their campaign pledges would be punished in the next election.
He asked the Governors to promote democracy and governance ideas.
He encouraged Governors to think creatively and wisely about solving their people’s daily problems, recognising sub-national governments’ role in socio-economic development.
The President urged governors to put the nation first, regardless of party. He said Nigerians want peace, progress, security, and great education, healthcare, and social services. President Buhari noted how governors’ advocacy of these ideals improves social service delivery.
President Buhari acknowledged the constraints of a challenging budgetary climate when reviewing his efforts since 2015.
However, he took pride in the foundation laid for a prosperous Nigeria, with a strategic focus on infrastructure development, agriculture, and strengthening the armed forces. Infrastructure investments, such as roads, rails, airports, ports, and affordable housing, improved market access, linkages, and supply chain costs.
He said government agriculture interventions decreased the food import expense, improved local production, and expanded vital export crops.
President Buhari praised the armed services’ bravery in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity and committed to assist and strengthen them until peace and security are restored.
“There are many areas of mutual interests between the US and each of your states, including on-governance, health development and many more,” said US Embassy Deputy Head of Mission David Greene.
He said USAID aids Nigeria’s health, education, inclusive economic development, and governance.
“USAID invested $855 million in Nigeria in fiscal year 2021,” he said.
We provide the most humanitarian and development aid bilaterally. “Without your state-level participation and partnership, none of this would be feasible or have the incredible impact that it does,” he said.
