The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) spoke in Yenagoa during a courtesy visit to the Bayelsa State governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, in continuation of his presidential consultation tour across the country.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Affairs, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted Turaki as saying that under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of President Buhari, Nigerians are beginning to doubt whether the country would survive.
ALSO READ: I’m not worried I don’t have NYSC certificate — Shittu
“Today, this country is in a sorry state. Nothing seems to be working in Nigeria. Nigerians are hungry and there is poverty everywhere. There is a lot of nepotism in the land. We are living in times where Nigerians are doubting if we can survive. I challenge the government of APC to pinpoint one single project that they implemented from the beginning and they have been able to complete.”
Turaki also berated Buhari for not fulfilling his election campaign promises and that the global standard is for younger persons to assume leadership positions, including the presidency.
“We have seen leaders, who said if they get elected, there would no more be medical tourism in Nigeria. But today, if they have headache, they go to London. If they have leg or ear pain, they go to London.
“The international best practice is for younger persons to be voted to lead their countries.”
We have seen in other countries where indivduals in their late 30s and 40s were given the opportunity to lead their countries. We want leaders that can sit in the global arena and be able to speak great things with other leaders.”
The presidential hopeful commended the educational and health policies of the Governor Dickson administration, saying they are second to none in the country.
“Today, the system is working in Bayelsa State because Nigerians living here can see what government is doing to better their lives. In the education sector, you have been able to start from the scratch one of the best universities in Africa, which is indeed the pride of every African. This is not political talk because I have been privileged to tour round the facilities in the university.
“In the health sector, the Bayelsa Diagnostic Centre is one of the best in Africa and the state’s health insurance scheme is the first in Nigeria. Every indigene of Bayelsa has the confidence to go to the diagnostic centre to get the best treatment that is second to none because that is the beginning of proper and effective treatment and you will be informed what is wrong with you. There is no state that has been able to give their citizens what you have done,” he said.
and then