President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday promised Nigerians that he would never surrender to corruption.
He said fighting corruption was a task
that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the
ordinary Nigerians whom he said were the worst victims of diseases,
poverty, malnutrition and other afflictions.
Buhari spoke in his Eid-el Kabir message
to Nigerians made available to journalists by his Senior Special
Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.
The President said surrendering to corruption was not an option because it destroyed society and progress of nations.
“Even if some people hate you for
fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a
leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.
The President explained that religion was a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and action.
He, however, regretted that selfishness,
greed and corruption had overwhelmed human beings to the extent that
people abandoned their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.
On the current economic challenges
facing Nigerians, the President reassured Nigerians that such were
temporary because the welfare of the people was the main thrust of the
change agenda of his administration.
To buttress this point, Buhari cited the
many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social
Investment Programme among which was the recent decision to distribute
recovered looted funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.
President Buhari urged Nigerians to rise above
personal, group, sectarian and other interests, and promote harmony and
tolerance in dealing with one another at all times.
He urged all Muslims to use the Eid-el
Kabir for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good
ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values
He reminded Muslims that this occasion
of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim
Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the
value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to
nation-building.
“We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President declared.
Meanwhile, President Buhari is billed to
celebrate this year’s Eid-el Kabir with his kinsmen in his home town,
Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday.
The President on Monday left Abuja for the purpose.
His convoy left the forecourt of the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja at about 3.06pm.
Some top government officials saw Buhari off as he left for his home town.
The government officials included his
Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari; the National Security Officer, Babagana
Monguno; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss
Mustapha.
The President is expected back in Abuja after the Sallah break.
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