Osita Okechukwu, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) has flayed those criticizing President, Muhammadu Buhari for not making a speech at his inauguration on May 29.
Okechukwu also blamed the decay and neglect of critical infrastructure over years for insecurity in some parts of the country.
He spoke on Saturday at the Igwa-Nshi Eke Festival held in Odo Amankwo Eke autonomous community in Udi LGA of Enugu State, which was graced by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and other dignitaries.
Entertaining questions from journalists, Okechukwu argued that it would be inappropriate that President Buhari makes an inaugural speech on May 29 and less than a fortnight makes another inaugural speech on June 12.
According to him, the President has proclaimed June 12 as democracy day and by constitutional aspect, it is more proper him to make his inaugural speech on that day.
“Like I was telling them when they said that president should have made a speech on 29th May, during the inauguration, I told them that if the president has proclaimed June 12th as the democracy day, by constitutional aspect he will make speech on June 12.
“There is no need of making speech on the inauguration day. June 12 has become a national day. Next year the president will make a speech on June 12 which has been established as democracy day. Because there will be no transition next year, there is nothing like handover or speech on 29 May.
“We are saying that he did well. He cannot give speech on 29 May and give another speech on June 12 in less than a fortnight. On that day (June 12) he will tell the country what he has for them.
“I believe he has done well most especially in the area of infrastructure. For me he has embarked on the most passively infrastructural of road, 5000km of federal roads, 5000km of railways and another 5000 megawatts of electricity,” Okechukwu said.
On the insecurity in some parts of the country, the VON DG noted that the critical infrastructure was the back-bone for any economy as it holds the key to mass employment and job creation by creating enabling environment for the private sector, government and communities to strive in their endeavours.
The director-general noted that the unemployment, idleness and despondence brought about by many years of decay and neglect of critical infrastructure is breeding the current insecurity being witness in some parts of the country.
“Part of the insecurity on the ground and gross unemployment is because we allowed our critical infrastructure to delay and it was neglected by successive administrations for many years.
“The day you return Nigeria’s critical infrastructure back to work such as sufficient electricity, good road and rail networks and sufficient food etc; you have more Nigerians hands on jobs and there will be more prosperity and happiness in the land.
“This is because the insecurity cannot be disconnected from the idleness and despondence among the people especially the youths and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration understood all these.
“President Buhari has embarked on on-going massive critical infrastructure development of 5,000 kilometres of Federal roads; 5,000 kilometres of Standard Gauge Rail Lines, additional 5,000 megawatts of electricity and self-sufficiency in food production in one swoop across the country.
“Buhari also has provision of gas pipelines to major commercial cities especially in the South-East as well as provision of modern airports across the country in his kitty; while promising to complete 2nd Niger Bridge and revitalize Enugu coal back to life.
“All these and other laudable projects of his administration are not only meant to create enabling environment for the private sector to strive, but for individuals and communities to engage in all forms of production especially within the South-East.
“These critical infrastructure and other projects are meant to help Nigerians – organised private sector, group or individuals – to easily succeed in their businesses and create more jobs in every nook and cranny in the country,’’ he said.
