Expectation Of Nigerians Too High -- Buhari

President elect, Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, has told the All
Progressives Congress governors-elect, that the expectation of
Nigerians was too high hence the need to sensitise all to set
realistic targets.

Buhari said this at a meeting with the APC governors-elect at Defence
House, Abuja, on Monday.

He also lamented the poor state of the economy which has made it
difficult for both the federal and state governments to meet their
obligations to workers.

The President-elect was responding to pleas by the incoming governors
for him to prepare a sort of bail out for states to enable them pay
salaries.
Buhari said, "The expectation is too high and I have started nervously
to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day."
According to him, it is sad that the nation is grappling with security
challenges while the economy is lying prostrate with most states
unable to pay salaries in spite of the revenue we earned from 1990
till date.

He also said, "For this to be corrected, please give the incoming
government a chance. Here, I will like to recall what happened during
the Abacha regime which led to the emergence of PTF."

The former military ruler recalled that, "The Abacha regime was a
military regime and it thought that the only way was to increase the
prices of petroleum products, but they were not taking Nigerians for a
ride.

"They could have said if Nigerians decide too riot, they have the guns
and so they can have their way. They decided to tell Nigerians that
they were going to increase prices of petroleum products and the money
we get, we will put aside for development. That was how PTF came."

Perhaps in a veiled reference to what his administration is planning
to do to mitigate the effects of the economic down turn, Buhari hinted
at embarking on public enlightenment to galvanise public support for
his economic policies.

The President-elect said, "This time around, under this system, to
bounce back with the issue especially with the backlog of salaries
which are of immediate concern to individuals and states, I think we
should look for a better way to address the issue and think of how to
persuade people to give us a chance to organise the economy
immediately and get something to pay salaries."

He reaffirmed his determination to give priority to securing the lives
and property of Nigerians because according to him no meaningful
development can take place without security.
--PUNCH