Buhari says Nigeria is a lucky country after receiving Report on Security Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari has said Nigeria is a lucky country and Nigerians should congratulate themselves despite the multiple challenges that could have led to its division.

This was made known to the public by the President's spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina in a statement after Buhari received the report of the security summit held by the House of Representatives on May 26.

The report was submitted on Tuesday, July 13 by a team of legislators led by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at the State House in Abuja.

President Buhari encouraged leaders to respect the people, from the lowest to the highest, “so that it becomes a duty to them (the people) to pay back to the leadership.”

He said respect for the masses also means they are given the liberty to choose what they like as their leaders irrespective of politics or religion.

While describing the event as “a remarkable occasion,” the president restated his determination to serve the country to the best of his ability, recalling his visits to the 36 states during the campaign for 2019 elections.

He said: “The number of people that turned out to see me, some waiting for 10 hours in the sun, was more than anyone could buy, or force.

“They just wanted to see who this Buhari was. People wonder why Nigerians accept me, despite not being rich. I wonder, too. I felt I just have to serve Nigeria and Nigerians to the best of my ability.”

He commended the 9th National Assembly for its cooperation with the Executive, saying he tried very hard to get the 8th Assembly to do same for the sake of the country, “and I didn’t succeed much.

“But time has proved me right.”

In his remarks, Gbajabiamila thanked the president for endorsing the security summit conducted by the House.

“You were part of it from the very beginning, and you were to have declared it open, if not for the exigencies of duty,” he said.

The Speaker said the summit became imperative after lawmakers were bombarded daily by their constituents on the security challenges facing the country, “and motions after motions were moved by the lawmakers.”

A committee of 50 lawmakers, across party, religious and ethnic lines, he said, was set up to plan the summit, “and Mr President was very eager and enthusiastic about it, showing the importance you place on security.”

Gbajabiamila said the report was a product of inputs by traditional rulers, scholars, independent thinkers, and security chiefs, NANS reports.

According to him, it contains seven recommendations that require legislative action, and about 19 that will be implemented by the Executive.

The Speaker submitted: “Thank you Mr President for what you have done so far to douse tension and for Nigeria to remain one.

“It’s about all of us, not just the Executive, the legislature or the judiciary. And Nigeria will work, by the grace of God.” (NAN)