By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, has refuted a media report alleging that Nigerian Governors are planning to send a delegation to confirm the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari in London, saying there is no need for such emissary since the President is in good shape.
Mr Mohammed made the rebuttal in Abuja on Thursday when he received members of the Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative’s Sub Committee on Economic Development.
He said, “I think it is very much in order to use this opportunity to debunk the report in a section of the press today (Thursday) that Governors are meeting in Abuja and they will at the end of the meeting send an emissary to London to see President Buhari.”
Furthermore, he said, “I want to say categorically and emphatically that there is no iota of truth in this. Governors are not meeting here in Abuja because there is no need for it and there is no plan to send any emissary to London to see the President. Again I want to say that the President is hale and hearty in London where he is observing his 10-day vacation.”
While speaking on the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast, Mr Mohammed said he fully appreciated the enormity of the challenge, having visited parts of Borno State, including the IDPs camps, upon his assumption of office in 2015.
He said the development had prompted him to launch a massive public sensitization campaign for Nigerians to take ownership of the war, thus complementing the efforts of the military, which has succeeded in decimating Boko Haram.
“We believe that until Nigerians take possession of the war, the full rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement will not take place.
“We are also aware that there is a bigger war to be won, and that is healing the psychological wounds that have been created by the insurgency,” the Minister said.
He promised to partner with the Committee in efforts to de-radicalize the youths, whose orientation has been affected by the warped ideology of Boko Haram, and equally change the narrative on the Northeast.
“On our part, we will assist you in any manner because we are very particular about the narrative and this is where your task becomes onerous. We must de-radicalize our people. We must ensure that the young ones don’t just hear one narrative,” Mr Mohammed said.
He decried how bad governance, poverty and hopelessness fuelled the insurgency in the Northeast and commended the Governors of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa for their efforts at reversing the ugly trend.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Mr Yusuf Buba, said because of the large-scale destruction of lives and property and the widespread displacement of people, President Buhari had itemized some salient initiatives towards the rebuilding of the social and economic lives of the people.
“President Buhari’s plan for long term economic development covers infrastructural development, agricultural revitalization, educational transformation, health sector reforms, entrepreneurship and job creation, trade and marketing development, safety and security, environmental protection, solid mineral development, good governance and regional strategic growth management,” he said.
