Bunmi Amosu:This is the speech President Buhari should have given yesterday
1. My dear citizens, I am very grateful to God and to all of you for your prayers and good wishes while I was away. I am pleased to be back on home soil among my brothers and sisters.
2. I am also thankful to my wife, family and members of my medical team for the excellent job done in helping me recover from my illness.
3. I will like to thank most especially, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for stirring the ship of nationhood successfully in my absence. His dedication to duty, loyalty to the nation and tireless efforts in implementing the programmes of our administration are well appreciated. My confidence in the VP is unwavering and together, we plan to continue to do our best to serve our dear country.
4. I did not envisage that my medical vacation will keep me away for this long. Ill-health is one of the greatest challenges of the human body but I thank God Almighty and the advancement in medicine, for the chance to be alive today to address you.
5. While I was away, I had the opportunity to reflect on the state of our country’s health services and with sincerity of heart, I concluded that there should be no reason whatsoever for any Nigerian to leave the shores of the country to seek medical help abroad if we had in place the proper medicare structure like they have in the UK and other developing nations.
6. It is for this reason, I am declaring, with immediate effect, a state of emergency in our health care sector.
7. I have directed the minister of health to immediately set up a medical task force that will look into the problems of our healthcare system, with the aim of finding lasting solutions. This review and proposed solutions will last for only four months.
8. Part of the work of this medical committee, which will be made up of the best medical personnel Nigeria has to offer, will be to develop a proper health care scheme/insurance program that will allow all Nigerians, regardless of social status, access to comprehensive treatment.
9. In addition, I am initiating a (name of disease) research foundation that will be overseen by a team of medical researchers; comprising of select persons from the teaching hospitals of four of our legacy universities -UNILAG, UI, UNN and OAU. Their work will be to carry out an extensive research into the causes, treatments, and cure of (name of ailment), for the sake of our fellow citizens who may be suffering from or suffer from same ailment in future.
10. Now that I am back, my administration will redouble its effort in delivering on our campaign promises. I admit that there have been lapses in the way we have managed the economy but all we have done so far has been in the best interest of the nation. However, I can confidently say that Nigerians will begin to experience the ‘Changes’ we promised prior to coming into office. It is a commitment I stand by.
11. To the hard-working and passionate youths of this country, we will never allow your hopes and dreams to die. In the next few days, my administration will be announcing a policy change in education that will cause a developmental revolution, never seen in any part of the world. The policy shift will lend toward the technology, agriculture, and creative industries.
12. On national security, I wish to restate my administration’s commitment to ensuring that every nook and cranny of our dear country is safe enough for every Nigerian to live and thrive, regardless of tribe or ethnicity.
13. Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance. (Lifted from original speech)
14. Let me restate that Nigeria’s unity should not be toyed with. We shall not allow irresponsible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood. (Lifted from original speech)
15. To my brothers and sisters from the South-East and South-South of the country, your concerns are well noted. No part of this country will be left untouched with the good policies and programmes of this administration. This is a great opportunity to solidify our union and we will not fail in this task. I urge you all to continue to contribute your fair share to the development of our country.
16. In the coming days, we will review the fight against Boko Haram and step up the campaign to root out the remaining elements of the insurgency from the face of this country and its borders.
17. In the coming days, I will be holding town hall meeting across the length and breadth of this country to get first hand views and opinions from Nigerians.
18. Finally, dear Nigerians, our collective interest now is to eschew petty differences and come together to face common challenges of; economic security, political evolution and Integration, as well as lasting peace among all Nigerians. (Lifted from original speech)
19. The task to get Nigeria on the path of economic growth and prosperity is enormous but together, we can achieve greater good if we work together as one people, indivisible.
20. I remain resolutely committed to ensuring that these goals are achieved and maintained. I am so glad to be home. (Lifted from original speech)
Thank you and have a prosperous week ahead. May God bless Nigeria.
