President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented the unfair criticism of his administration by Nigerian elites despite developing the country with limited resources than past governments.
He said this on Saturday as he re-validated his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his constituency in Daura, Katsina State.
The President criticised past governments for generating money during the oil boom and not fixing the rails, road and other important infrastructure.
He added that before his administration, Nigeria was producing 2.4 million barrels per day at the rate of $100 but under his administration, production has gone down to half a million and the prices of oil has crashed.
“So for these years, daily Nigeria would earn having 2.4m times 100 dollars every day. But look at the condition of infrastructure, you know this better than I do. I know I went to every local government of the country in my three consecutive attempts to become the President. You know the road more than I do. You know the condition of the rail, the railway was dead. Now look at it everywhere we go, what did they do with all these monies?,” Buhari said.
“When we took over in this administration, production went down to about half a million barrels per day, the price collapsed. We had to do what is called a bailout wherever we got the money from. Upon all the money from 1999 to 2014, we have to give you money from the Centre to pay salaries. No! Nigerian elites are not interested in rating the competence but they are interested in harassing us with all efforts we are making.”
Speaking further during the exercise in his Daura residence, Buhari who was accompanied by the APC Caretaker Committee members and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said the era of endorsing political choices from Abuja is over and his aim for the party is to ensure that power goes back to the people at the grassroots.
