President Bola Tinubu has condemned the recent spate of kidnappings and bandit attacks, describing the development as disturbing, ungodly, and sinister.
Speaking when he received a delegation of Jam’iyyatu Ansaridden, a highly respected Islamic Movement, at the State House, in Abuja on Tuesday, President Tinubu said while security agencies are acting with dispatch to immediately address the current challenge, all required resources, policies and plans will be rolled out soon for the massive education of Nigerian youths.
The President said education is the antidote to the troubles agitating the nation, adding: “There is no weapon against poverty that is as potent as learning.
“I can assure you that we are here to change the life of our people. We are here to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity.
“We are dedicated to building a lasting peace with a focus on the comprehensive education of our children. We will get our teachers and their owners involved in an education process that will be relevant to the future of this country. It is important. Knowledge brought me here with your prayers and your support. Without knowledge, there is nothing to generate hope for mankind,” President Tinubu said.
The President also emphasized that it was important to promote updated knowledge through existing islamic learning institutions for youths in Northern Nigeria to speed up development in the region, in Nigeria, and throughout Africa.
“Please embark on special prayers. Embark on proper education for our youths. Kidnapping and banditry are not the way of God. Shedding each other’s blood is bad. And there can be no development without peace. It is only in the area of peace that we can eliminate poverty. We must work for peace in order for our economy to grow better,” the President concluded.
In his remarks, the Jam’iyyatu Ansaridden leader, Sheikh Muhammad Lamine Niass encouraged the President to continue implementing his reform initiatives while affirming that his movement, which is reputed for its promotion of peace and tolerance, would continue to pray for Nigeria’s peaceful development.
We’ll stamp out Boko Haram, Bandits—Tinubu
Also, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday assured that his administration would stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, banditry and kidnapping gangs in the country.
He gave the assurance in Abuja at the unavailing of books entitled: ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023).
The book was written by Mr Femi Adesina, who served as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former president, Muhammad Buhari.
Tinubu said his administration would not rest until `every agent of darkness` was rooted out of the country.
“My government will stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, banditry and kidnapping gangs.
“We won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out,” Tinubu said.
He thanked Adesina for using his memoirs to reveal the challenging eight years of Buhari administration and how he steered the ship of state.
He recalled that Buhari assumed office at a very difficult period of our national life when the economy was spiralling into recession and Boko Haram had taken over some territories in North-East.
“At a point, it appeared that even Abuja, the seat of government would fall into the hands of Boko Haram with the bombing of the United Nations (UN) Building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya and other locations.
“We cannot easily forget how our armed forces battled the Boko Haram terrorists under the leadership of Buhari to reclaim our territory and push them to the fringes of Lake Chad where they no longer pose existential threat to our sovereignty.
“I must say the job of securing every inch of our country is yet to be finished“, Tinubu said.
He said in spite of what Adesina recorded in his books as Buhari’s achievements history would also be kind to him as a leader who promoted local production of goods to grow our economy.
“It will be said glowingly of President Buhari that his eight turbulent years, marked by acute shortage of revenue, Covid-19 pandemic shut down the global economy for almost two years.
“His administration embarked on the most ambitious infrastructural renewal for the country.
“Buhari gave us the second Niger Bridge, he revamped Lagos-Ibadan expressway among others,” Tinubu said.
He also said Buhari completed Abuja-Kaduna rail line and Lekki Seaport as well as build brand new airports among many other landmark projects.
He said whatever unresolved challenges faced by Buhari in his eight years, his administration would endeavour to resolve them.
“As I said during the campaigns, I inherited all his assets and liabilities.
“Our administration will continue to work from where President Buhari stopped, to make our country better, create a vibrant economy and secure the environment to bring more prosperity to our people,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State, was the occasion’s chairman, while the co-chairman was Gen. I.B.M Haruna, among other dignitaries.
A royal delegation from Saudi Arabia led by Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud also attended, while Alhaji Mohammed Indim, Chairman, Oriental Energy Resources Limited, was the chief launcher.
The book reviewer was Shola Oshunkeye, CNN African Journalist of the year 2006. (NAN)
