What Buhari needs to succeed – Jonathan

By Isiaka Wakili | Publish Date: Apr 6 2015 4:01AM

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President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Nigerians to be ready to make sacrifices in order to help the President-elect retired General Muhammadu Buhari succeed.Jonathan spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday when he received a delegation of the Federal Capital Territory residents led by his vice, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who paid him Easter homage.The president described Easter, as a period of sacrifice.

He said: “Whenever we talk about this period, the key lesson there is sacrifice. Somebody sacrificed for our own salvation. “Now, Buhari is coming on board; it is not about supporting Buhari or government, but what sacrifice, as individuals, are you willing to make for government and for the nation?”He asked whether Nigerians would be ready to make the sacrifice of backing Buhari if he should increase Value Added Tax (VAT) from five to 10 percent.There is already a proposal in the medium term expenditure framework now before the National Assembly to increase VAT from five percent. The President said: “In the ECOWAS sub-region for example, Nigeria has the lowest VAT, other countries pay up to 12 percent. “If for instance, Buhari decides to increase VAT from 5 to 10 percent, will Nigerians support him? That is sacrifice, and we must make sacrifice.”The president maintained that no government would survive if the citizens, especially businessmen, refuse to pay tax.“If you are a businessman and you say you are supporting government, but you don’t pay tax; how do you expect that government to survive? That government will not survive,” he said.He recalled that as a deputy governor in Bayelsa State his people used to come to him to pledge their loyalty. He said he often responded, “Don’t tell me you are loyal; tell me you are patriotic to the country and that you believe in Bayelsa State.“To me, whenever I travel to different countries and see things work, those things didn’t fall down as many people made sacrifice.“Therefore, in Nigeria, people must also be ready to make the required sacrifice. Whoever becomes president is immaterial so long as the citizens are happy; our children go to school, when they are sick, they go to good hospital and of course, the economy blossoms.“Nation building depends on the sacrifices of individuals and the patriotism of the citizens. These are two key elements. “We are talking about Boko Haram or terror; soldiers are dying for us to live, police are dying for us to live. That is sacrifice. As individuals, you don’t need to die, but there are various roles you need to play. You must make sacrifice.“The economy of China was threatened, but they locked up themselves for a period of time. And by the time they opened their doors, they become even a threat to the biggest economy.“Are we ready for that kind of sacrifice for the government? Whenever we talk of Easter, these are the key lessons of sacrifice”, Jonathan said.The president reminisced about his years of service from being the deputy governor of Bayelsa State to being the nation’s number one citizen and said: “I think it is enough”.The president said since 1999, he had been in a cage “being taken care of by the government”.“For me as an individual, this Easter coincides with the time I’m leaving. But I always say that I’m one of the luckiest Nigerians. I’m yet to see somebody luckier than me. From 1999, I was in the hands of government for 16 years.“I was in a cage, being taken care of by the government. From May 29, 1999 to date; 16 good years! I think it is enough and I am happy. Help me to thank God for that ...Today is a glorious day for me.”Those in the delegation were Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim; Chief of Staff Jones Arogbofa; Head of Service Danladi Kifasi; Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Nigeria Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission John Kennedy-Opara; Chief Imam of the National Mosque Alhaji Muhammed Musa, among others.

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