things to return to status quo, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday.
The President called on the elites to stop insisting that things should be done the ‘old way’, which impoverished the nation, as those
days were gone now.
“This administration is pleased we won the election, we are pleased Nigerians are cooperating with us. But the problems are so enormous
that we need the cooperation of Nigerians, particularly the elite.
They (elite) should reflect on the condition of the country, and stop making expensive demands because things cannot be done the old way,’’ a statement by presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, quoted the President to have said in Dakar .
The statement was however silent on the nature of demands made by the elites in the country.
Elite is a word used to refer to selected group of people the society considers special and superior to others probably because of their
wealth, knowledge, connections or influence . They maybe the likes of Wole Soyinka, Ango Abdullahi and the latest being the Emir of kano,
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Speaking at a meeting with a group of Nigerians in the Diaspora, on the margins of the 3rd Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa on Tuesday in Dakar, the President said his administration is on the right track to improve the image of the country by
entrenching accountability and probity in governance.
President Buhari told the 11-man Nigerian delegation of association leaders resident in Senegal and Cote D’ Ivoire, that the last 16 years
of poor handling of the nation’s resources and infrastructure have continued to impact negatively on the country.
On the welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, President Buhari assured them that the Federal Government will continue to promote good
neighbourliness and improve the negative perception about Nigerians abroad.
“Nigerians are known for their competitiveness and I am very passionate about Nigeria. I will continue to preach good neighbourliness and work hard to improve the numerous human and material resources in the country,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian community, Cote D’ Ivoire, Adebayo Yahaya, commended the President for his bold and
unflinching fight against corruption, saying “Nigerians are praying for your success, don’t relent, do not lose hope, the almighty God is
behind you.’’
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian community, Senegal, Osas Edigin, told the President that Nigerians in the country have enjoyed excellent relationship with their hosts.
