Standup9ja: Buhari’s mission of change through eyes of Nigerians

Standup9ja: Buhari’s mission of change through eyes of Nigerians

Suleiman Hashim popularly known as the “Trekker”, made history by trekking to Abuja after Muhammdu Buhari won the 2015 presidential election.

He told Daily Trust that his real name is Suleiman and his foster father’s name is Hashim, a retired military officer who resides in Funtua while his biological father,  who is still alive, is Muazu. Both are indigenes of Funtua in Katsina State.

“I trekked from Lagos to Abuja in fulfillment of my pledge to commemorate the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the election. I trekked for 18 days from Lagos to Abuja and I used six sports shoes to complete the journey. During the journey, many village heads and residents gave me letters to deliver to President Muhammadu Buhari when I passed the night in their places or when I trekked through. They all asked for security in the country and development of the north and the country in general to make everybody happy,” he said.

“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has ensured the reduction of insurgency and enhancement of peace.  That is why I don’t regret trekking to celebrate Buhari’s triumph  and I am praying for him to recover fully to come back to the country and continue good governance,” he added.

Hashim said he wants President Muhammadu Buhari to work with those that ensured his success in the polls and to empower the youth for them get gainfully employed, especially at the grassroots.

The Bring Back our Girls advocacy group otherwise known as BBOG has also commended the federal government on the release of 82 of the Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram militants. The convener of the group, Oby Ezekwesili, said recently that the BBOG applauded the government and security agencies on the release.

“The Nigerian presidency has confirmed that 82 of our missing 195 Chibok girls have been released via a negotiated deal. The efforts were through the combined effort of security agencies, the government of Switzerland, the Red Cross, local and international NGOs. We commend Mr President, the federal government and all the other partners for this heartwarming development. We are also glad that the statement from the presidency makes a strong commitment to rescuing the remaining 113 girls,” she said.

 BBOG members were also delighted with the release of 21 girls earlier in October 2016.

Co-convener of the group, Aisha Yesufu, however said : “We have not talked about President Buhari’s two years in office, but when we do, I will get back to you.”

But earlier during the release of the 82 Chibok  girls, she said the group was happy with government’s rescue efforts and urged the government to use its Verification, Authentication and Reunification System (VARS) to confirm the identities of the returned girls.

“We are pleased with the federal government’s efforts, in total, we have 106 girls rescued, but at the same time there are certain things that need to be worked on, more especially with the authentication and verification of the released girls, I feel government needs to work on that more. With their rescue, it shows that our Chibok girls are being accounted for and that also tells Nigerians that their lives matter and that will make people become more patriotic,” she said.

 “The last time we had 21 of our Chibok girls rescued, the treatment in terms of negotiation was more flawless than it is now so we urge the government to meet with the parents and members of the Chibok community to help with the verification and authentication process,” she stressed.

 However, Miss Chinwendu Nwachukwu, a cement salesgirl in Jabi Masallaci Abuja who is an indigene of Ebonyi State said: “This government has promised change but we are yet to see any change as many people are suffering due to hunger in the land. Before I used to eat three times daily, but now, I eat once daily as the price of foodstuff has skyrocketed. Many people are hungry due to the harsh economy as they don’t have food to eat. The price of cement has gone up as we now sell a bag at N2,700 as against the former N2,300. The rise in prices has led to low demand, I hardly sell a trailer load of 600 bags or 30 tonnes of cement in one week, while before now, I sold an average of three trailers daily. This has affected my salary as it no longer comes as at when due.”

Chinwendu said the government should know that people living in the villages are hungry and cannot go to the farm as they don’t have money to buy farm inputs, implements and pesticides. “The government should come to their rescue by reducing the price of foodstuff and cement so that my boss will make profit and pay me promptly because low sale is affecting my salary as a sales clerk”.

 The sales clerk objected to taking her photograph for publication because she said she had lost weight and had no money for make-up..

“I am appealing to members of the National Assembly to know that they are enjoying while the masses are in poverty, they should please unite to change the living condition of Nigerians now,” Chinwendu said.