Nigerians Are Expecting Too Much From Me, I’m Nervous – Buhari

President elect, Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari
has said he is getting nervous as the
expectations of Nigerians from him are too high.
He asks there was therefore the need to
sensitise all to set realistic targets.Buhari said
this at a meeting with the APC governors-elect
at Defence House, Abuja, on Monday.

He also lamented the poor state of the economy
which has made it difficult for both the federal
and state governments to meet their obligations
to workers.

The President-elect was responding to pleas by
the incoming governors for him to prepare a sort
of bail out for states to enable them pay salaries.
Buhari said, “The expectation is too high and I
have started nervously to explain to people that
Rome was not built in a day.

”According to him, it is sad that the nation is
grappling with security challenges while the
economy is lying prostrate with most states
unable to pay salaries in spite of the revenue we
earned from 1990 till date.

He also said, “For this to be corrected, please
give the incoming government a chance. Here, I
will like to recall what happened during the
Abacha regime which led to the emergence of
PTF.

”The former military ruler recalled that, “The
Abacha regime was a military regime and it
thought that the only way was to increase the
prices of petroleum products, but they were not
taking Nigerians for a ride.

“They could have said if Nigerians decide too
riot, they have the guns and so they can have
their way.
They decided to tell Nigerians that they were
going to increase prices of petroleum products
and the money we get, we will put aside for
development.

That was how PTF came.”Perhaps in a veiled
reference to what his administration is planning
to do to mitigate the effects of the economic
down turn, Buhari hinted at embarking on public
enlightenment to galvanise public support for his
economic policies.

The President-elect said, “This time around,
under this system, to bounce back with the issue
especially with the backlog of salaries which are
of immediate concern to individuals and states, I
think we should look for a better way to address
the issue and think of how to persuade people to
give us a chance to organise the economy
immediately and get something to pay salaries.

”He reaffirmed his determination to give priority
to securing the lives and property of Nigerians
because according to him no meaningful
development can take place without security.

Source: PunchNg