Below are highlights of President Mohammadu Buhari’s democracy speech followed by Reno Omokri’s rejections of most of the claims in that speech
ON HIS PROMISED CHANGE
This administration came at a time that Nigerians needed Change, the Change we promised and the Change we continue to deliver. We have faced a lot of challenges on this journey and Nigerians have stood by us in achieving the three cardinal points of this administration namely; Security, Corruption and the Economy.
ON KILLINGS BY INSURGENTS & BANDITS
This administration is pained over the grievous loss of lives and properties occasioned by the carnage of insurgency and other forms of criminality in the country. I wish to assure Nigerians that we will not rest until all criminal elements and their sponsors are brought to justice.
ON BRINGING KILLERS TO JUSTICE
The unfortunate incidences of kidnappings, herdsmen and farmers clashes in several communities which have led to high number of fatalities and loss of properties across the country is being addressed and the identified culprits and their sponsors shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.
ON ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR
The second primary object of this Administration is to fight corruption headlong. Like I have always said, if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will destroy the country. Three years into this Administration, Nigerians and the international community have begun to applaud our policies and determination to fight corruption. We are more than ever before determined to win this war, however hard the road is.
ON ELECTION SEASON
Finally, the up-coming months will usher us into another season of general elections. Let me use this opportunity to urge us all to conduct ourselves, our wards and our constituencies with the utmost sense of fairness, justice and peaceful co-existence such that we will have not only hitch free elections but also a credible and violence free process.
ON FIGHTING POVERTY
The Social Investment Programmes (SIP) has been created as a means to graduating our citizens from poverty through capacity building, investment and direct support. The major strategic objective is to restore livelihood, economic opportunities and sustenance for the poor across the country.
ON POWER SUPPLY
In the area of power generation, Nigerians from all parts of the country continue to report better power supply and less use of generators. This underscores the effectiveness of the methodical plan to deliver incremental and uninterrupted power supply to our homes, markets, offices and factories.
ON POWER GENERATION
The country achieved 5, 222.3 MW representing the highest peak of power generated onto the national grid and delivered to customers in December, 2017. With new facilities, repairs and rehabilitations by Government and private investors, generation capability now exceeds 7,500 MW
ON NIGER DELTA
The Niger Delta Region has enjoyed relative peace through social inclusiveness and cooperation of the Elders and the good people of the region. Government is committed to implementing the comprehensive peace, security and development plan for the region.
ON ECONOMY
The broad strategic objectives of the ERGP were to; Restore and sustain economic growth; Build a globally competitive economy; and Invest in our people. The implementation of the ERGP has started yielding results. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that the economy grew by 1.95% in 1st quarter 2018, which is a good performance when viewed against -0.91 in 1st quarter 2017 and -0.67% in 1st quarter 2016 respectively.
HOWEVER, RENO OMOKRI, FORMER AIDE TO EX-PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WROTE.
1-Buhari lied by claiming to increase foreign reserves.PMB met a reserve of $32 billion on May 29, 2015. In 3 years he has borrowed ₦11 trillion. This is more than PDP borrowed in 16 years combined. It is from this debt that he has ‘increased’ our reserve
2-Buhari lied by claiming Integrated Personnel And Payment Information System (IPPIS) as an achievement of his government. IPPIS was initiated, started, implemented and completed by the Jonathan administration.
3-Buhari lied that he “inherited a weak economy”. He inherited the world’s 3rd fastest growing economy, according to @CNNMoney. He failed to appoint a cabinet for 6 months. It weakened the economy and led to recession.
4-Buhari lied when he said Nigerians are enjoying increased power supply. This is such an obvious lie. He has not built a single power station. The last power station built in Nigeria was built by Jonathan. I ask you, has your power improved?
5-Buhari lied saying Boko Haram‘s capacity is ‘degraded’. It runs counter to the testimony of the #DapchiGirls who testified that Boko Haram now have planes and they land them within Nigeria. Boko Haram didn’t have planes under Jonathan
6-Buhari lied by saying he has improved the education sector. By his third year Jonathan had built 120 Almajiri schools and 12 universities. Giving out licenses to the private sector to build a polytechnic is not an achievement. Buhari should be ashamed
7-Buhari lied by claiming 7000 Megawatts power as achievement. The devil will have trouble beating that lie. Nigeria under Buhari is not even regularly transmitting half that number. Perhaps he means IGP’s ‘TRANSMISSION’ and not electric power transmission
8-Buhari lied by claiming the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge as an achievement. No bridge has been constructed. No contract has been awarded. The ₦2 billion released was money earmarked by Jonathan not Buhari.
9-Buhari lied by claiming US FAA Category 1 status as an achievement. Nigeria attained US FAA Category 1 on October 23, 2010 under former President Jonathan. Here is the proof. Buhari is desperate for achievements.
10-Buhari lied by claiming the visa on arrival policy as his achievements. This policy was unveiled in 2013 by Olusegun Aganga, Jonathan’s minister of industry.
11-Buhari lied when he said he has reduced inflation. In truth, inflation increased by 50% from 9.8% when Buhari took over in May 2015, to 13.34%. The last time Nigeria enjoyed single digit inflation rate was under ex President Jonathan
12-Buhari lied about the so called unprecedented FIRS tax revenue and customs receipt. When you factor in the devaluation of the Naira by the Buhari government. The revenues made is actually about half the revenues made in 2014 when Naira was ₦150 to $1
13-Buhari said the ₦2.7trillion capital expenditure for 2016 and 2017 combined is a record.₦2.7 trillion is worth $8 billion today. It is not up to the ₦1.6 trillion Jonathan allocated for capital expenditure in 2013 which was equivalent to $9.6 billion
14-Buhari lied by saying Nigeria is more secure under him. According to the Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria is now the THIRD most terrorised nation in the world. We were number 4 under Jonathan. We have moved 1 step backward. Herdsmen now kill more than BH
15-Buhari lied that he has reduced corruption in Nigeria. According to Transparency International, Nigeria is more corrupt under Buhari than it was at ANYTIME during the Jonathan administration. We have moved 12 steps backwards from 136 to 144 on TI’s CPI
16-Buhari lied about increased foreign exchange inflos into Nigeria. Whereas Nigeria was the NUMBER ONE destination for FDI in Africa under Jonathan, under Buhari we are not even among the top 10 destinations in Africa.
17-Buhari lied when he says he is fighting corruption.Transparency International revealed that unbudgeted security votes given to APC officials have suddenly increased to $670 million. They suspect it is to fund Buhari’s reelection
18-Buhari lied he will bring criminals to justice. Facts contradict this assertion. Under Buhari, close to 1000 so called ‘repentant’ Boko Haram terrorists have been released. Herdsmen killing Nigerians have not been prosecuted. Instead they are defended
19-Buhari should not attempt to take any credit for the Not Too Young Bill. He is 75 and does not have a single youth in his cabinet. Not even one. His heart is not in the bill. He was not the promoter. He just wants to reap where he didn’t sow
Finally, I urge President Muhammadu Buhari to remember that he is fasting and Ramadan fast is not only about abstinence from food, it is also about abstaining from lies. I congratulate him on his new Guinness World Record of most lies in a single speech
