Old ways of doing things keeping Nigeria down ― Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has admonished that until Nigerians accept new values and cultivate better ways of living, the old ways of doing things will keep holding the nation back.

He has therefore promised to pursue inclusive and participatory growth that creates opportunities for all.

Receiving members of the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday, he assured Nigerians that his administration will leave Nigeria better than when it came to power by focusing on the tripod of tackling insecurity, promoting economic diversification and fighting corruption.

A statement issued by Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), quoted the President as saying: “Fulfilling these three promises is fundamental to taking Nigeria to the Next Level. I assure you that I am resolute on the delivery of these promises. When we leave, Nigeria will be a far better place than when we came.”

He said efforts were made in the last four years to return Nigeria to the path of sustainable growth, especially in re-energizing the economy, appreciating BMO for its diligence and sacrifices in ensuring effective communication with Nigerians, despite distractions.

The President further said: “It is not an easy job to sell this administration’s successes: we are doing unpopular things in the face of powerful individuals and taking on vested interests who are accustomed to the corrupt old order.

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“But we must do things the right way; if we promised change, then we must deliver it, regardless of whose interest we touch. There must be a manifest departure from the old order.”

The President, who commended the organisation for supporting his vision since 2014, and propagating the achievements of the administration since 2015, said he remains committed to ending the challenge of insecurity in the country.

“One message that is dear to me, that I urge you to propagate, is that I am determined to end the security challenges we face as a country, and make Nigeria a peaceful and prosperous country,’’ he added.

In his remark, the Coordinator of the media organisation and Senior Special Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, said the group had grown into an institution as it was in place before elections in 2015, remained throughout the President’s first term, and will outlive the second term.

Shehu said the organisation remains committed to the advancement of the “Buhari presidency’’, attributing its survival to some good spirited Nigerians.

The Chairman of BMO, Chief Niyi Akinsiju, said the organisation’s “situation room” had met every day since 2015, following the directive of the President that it should be cultivated into a communication hub after winning the elections.

He said President Buhari’s administration achieved more than his predecessors, listing some of the key milestones to include resuscitation of railway, road, housing projects, and initiating a social security platform that had catered for about 12 million Nigerians.

Akinsiju said the revolution in the agricultural sector was historical with evidence of lifting many farmers out of poverty, assuring the President that BMO will work to propagate achievements of the second term, already branded ‘Next Level.’