Fellow Countrymen; it’s with deep sense of patriotism that I make
this speech tonight. You will recall that when I was made the
acting president and subsequently president due to the untimely
death of president Shehu Yaradua GCFR, I had to do my best to
keep the nation as one, knowing that the polity was still heated at
that moment, as failure to do so would have seen the army
probably striking, hence my inability to perform to your
expectation. All I did during the two years period of serving out
President Yaradua’s tenure was to see to the rule of law which he
began till he passed away. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
When the coast was clear for election to take place, I went into
the race, campaigning to all of you in your various states,
soliciting for your votes. Many of you formed various groups on
my behalf to woo the electorates. May I at this junction correct
this belief that I initiated the “I had no shoes” mantra; on the
contrary, I was shocked myself to see the campaign jingle all over
the media. As a matter of fact, I was not consulted before it was
done, but I realize that it was all campaign strategy aimed at
appealing to your conscience. I made various promises in each of
the states I visited, which was a total of ninety one (91). Dear
compatriots, I have I not forgotten the promise made in any of
these States.
I do not seek to be a hero among you; neither do I seek the title of
statesmanship, when I don’t deserve it. It was out of my love for
football that I disbanded our national team, not out of wickedness.
I’m not unaware that you turned your back on me during the
infamous January 1st 2012 fuel subsidy which was engineered by
the Federal Executive Council, an action which necessarily I
would not have even considered, considering that I came from the
same background as you. But who was I to say no to a Harvard
graduate like Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, who you all agreed is an
economic guru, when she gave cogent economic reasons on why
the fuel subsidy should be removed, even though I admit that I
never understood what it meant. Tonight, I want to apologize for
that action which I took that caused the protests where lives were
lost. I apologize to the family of Enenche Akogwu, the Channels TV
reporter who died on the line of duty reporting the anger of
Nigerians against the decision I took.
I feel your pain and I do believe you also feel mine. It is my
sincere drive to better your standard of living that is why I
approved the fuel subsidy decision, especially on a day when you
all should be rejoicing and making resolutions for the New Year.
Please forgive my being insensitive. The hallmarks of leader is
admitting when they are wrong, apologizing for it and showing
true signs of repentance. Yes, cabals have taken over my
administrations as I have admitted over time; cabals whom I
thought I could fight to a standstill, but I was wrong. How could I
fight cabals like Femi Otedola, Aliko Dangote, Jimoh Ibrahim,
Dantata, Chris Uba and a host of others too numerous to mention,
when they all bankrolled my election? I agree that in this area I
failed Nigerians; I failed you, knowing that it was your votes that
brought me into power. I was not blabbing when I vowed to fight
the fabrics of corruption that have eaten deep into the system, but
may I tell you this compatriots; the fight against corruption can be
fought only with a clean hand, which admittedly I don’t have. I’m
sorry if I disappointed you.
Your complaints against Alison Madueke, urging me to fire her as
Minister of petroleum is justified, and even though I truly wish to
bow to your wishes, especially when glaring evidences were
provided, but I truly do not have the courage to fire a kinsman,
who have been a financial pillar to me and ‘bedmate’, as some of
you allege, but I can sincerely say to you that they were all
figments of imaginations of the media. I need not talk about Elder
Orubebe; his corrupt files are on my table, but again, the same
hand that held me back from firing Alison had also held me back
from sacking him, but do not mistake me for gay, as I am not one.
In this I know that I broke the oath of office by practicing
nepotism. Once again, I apologize to all Nigerians. I promise that
the 13 billion dollars I set aside with her towards 2015 campaigns
will now be reverted toward national building and security.
Fellow citizens of our great country Nigeria, you must have
observed that we are gradually winning the war against
terrorism, as orchestrated by Boko Haram. Though it was not easy
taking the decision to declare state of emergency in Borno, Yobe
and Adamawa States, but send a message that we are not a nation
govern by terrorists, who vowed to hold us to ransom, I had to
take it. The issue of Boko Haram will be a thing of the past before
the end of 2013; this I can assure you. I urge you to ignore any
propaganda of the group or any other insurgent groups. We will
win. Yes, we will overcome.
If there is any individual that I owe loads of apologies to, the
person is Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who I admit
has not done anything to me personally to incur my wrath. Let
me at this very moment state that my fight against him has been
due to what my political followers in the field fed me with, as
well as his misunderstanding with my wife. I have been told that
he intends to slug the PDP presidential ticket with me, an action
which my political friends consider an affront to me. I know I
ought to have personally asked him if it was true, but due to ill
advise, I overlooked it. Rotimi Amaechi, my younger brother,
accept my apology. The media has not been helpful as they have
blown a little squabble into a feud. To my friends in the media,
please help us in mending fences not deepening it, especially the
social media which has become the main source of news to
Nigerians.
Tonight, and again, I say, tonight, I am stating it loud and clear
that my wife is hereby banned from attending any government
functions in my capacity, commission any government properties
or parade herself as an elected official of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. I am aware of the entire crisis that she has caused in
various states that she has visited, especially her role in the
catastrophe between Governor Amaechi and the presidency. While
I hold my dear wife in I high esteem, I also hold the sanctity of
this nation in high regards. Consequently, the Minister of State,
Education is hereby relieved of his duties for personal reasons,
while the Rivers State commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu is to go on
compulsory. The minister of Health is also relieved following
allegations of his incompetence as former Chief Medical Director
of Ebonyi State leave Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH) and his inability
to quickly put an end to the Medical and Health workers strike
that engulfed the country. These pronouncements take place with
immediate effect.
The education travails in this country affects me just the way it
affects you. My Alma Mata, University of Portharcourt is among
the schools on strike and it hurts me to see it so. You wonder why
I singled out UNIPORT? When I was there, I never went on strike
neither do the polytechnics shut down, but today under my
watchful nose, ASUP and ASUU has gone on strike the same
period. I want to put an end to it once and for all, but our
coordinating Minister of the economy and Minister of Finance is
saying that we do not have the amount needed by ASUU, but I can
assure you that we will resolve it as soon as possible.
As for the long lingering crisis in the health sector, I hereby make
a pronouncement to all medical workers that the role of the chief
medical director is now a position for all health workers. This is
to create the much desired harmony in the health sector as we
have in other climes; however the holders of MBBS will co-
ordinate medical affairs during most clinical activities in the
hospitals. The board of all the hospitals will be reconstituted to
allow even representation of all medical practitioners. The
National health bill shall be signed into law by me the moment all
the grey areas are looked into and consented to by the various
medical professional unions.
Compatriots, this is the solemn moment; a moment of decision. I
appreciate your followership for the past four years, as
individuals and a people, however I have come to the conclusion
that I do no longer wish to be your president, hence I am
resigning as the President and grand commander in chief of the
Federal republic of Nigeria. The letter to this effect will be
communicated to the Senate President.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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