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.
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