President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday received the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and pledged to work harder in order to meet the expectations of all Nigerians.
The members of the ACF, led by the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Malam Adamu Fika, were on a congratulatory visit to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He also reassured the northern leaders’ forum that his administration would meet its cardinal objectives of transforming the economy, securing the country and sustaining the fight against corruption.
“By the system which I swore by the Holy Quran to follow, this is my last lap and I will try and even work harder than I did.
“So, I thank you very much; I appreciate your coming here to congratulate me and I assure you that I will not let you down as I will do my best; and I pray to God that my best will be good enough, I thank you very much indeed.’’
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The president, who narrated how he tried three times, but failed to secure the presidential seat prior to 2015, thanked the forum for the show of solidarity.
He stated that the ACF visit to the villa had reminded him of the good old days, saying that “I am very appreciative of this visit, especially when I see some of my seniors, some of my colleagues and a couple of my juniors among the team.’’
Earlier, Fika had told the president that they were at the State House to congratulate him on his re-election for another four-year term.
Fika noted with delight that the president had succeeded in meeting some of the forum’s demands which were presented to him during a similar congratulatory mission in 2015.
“We wish to recall that in 2015, a similar delegation of ACF visited and congratulated you following Your Excellency’s victory at the Presidential elections held earlier that year.
“A year later, May 2016, you were kind enough to grant an audience to another delegation of the Forum.
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“On that occasion, the delegation, led by late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano, drew your attention to projects of concern to the North and of benefit to Nigeria at large.
“The projects included the Baro Inland Water Port, the Mambilla Hydro Power, self- sufficiency in agriculture, road construction and rehabilitation, and above all, oil and gas exploration.
“It is pleasing to note that since then, the Baro port has been commissioned, while all other projects have been reactivated and are now being implemented,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Buhari had on January 19, inaugurated the Baro Inland Water Port which he promised to upgrade.
He also pledged to revive the railway and provide a dual carriage way that would boost economic activities at the Port.
The Baro Port project was first designed during the president’s days as Chairman of the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
The ACF chieftain expressed the hope that the organs of government charged with the responsibility of implementing the affected projects would double their efforts to ensure that they were fully executed and within reasonable time. (NAN)