Maitama Sule: Buhari-Osinbajo Administration Epitomises Great Change

Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule has described the Buhari-Osinbajo administration as an epitome of the much-needed change that would propel Nigeria to greater heights.

He said Nigerians should consider the persons of Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo as a treasure trove endowed to them by God at a time when the need for a positive paradigm shift has become imperative, adding that the federal government under the stewardship of Buhari and Osinbajo has the capacity to put the nation on a promising pedestal.

According to him, Nigeria could only move forward if the issue of ethnicity and religious bigotry is discarded, stressing that it is high time for politicians in the corridors of power to begin to accommodate the divergent views of one another.

Speaking yesterday at a special reception organised by the Kano state government in honour of the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, Sule said the stunning victory of the APC-led government in the recent general elections was an indication of a new era in governance.

The envoy maintained that during the first republic, the political elite had exhibited the courage and the temerity to respect each other’s ideological standpoint, and expressed optimism that with the new administration in the saddle of power the unity of Nigeria would remain sacrosanct.

He further revealed that the Buhari administration has every reason to remain committed in the quest of giving Nigeria a human face since it had received the acceptance of the international community, thus affirming that the outside world had seen the need to accord some balance of legitimacy to the regime.

In his contribution, veteran journalist and commentator, Mr. Dan Agbese recalled that government-media relation had never been cordial most especially during the hey days of military dictatorship, lamenting that many notable media practitioners had been made to pay a price for exposing the excesses of the powers-that-be.

While describing Shehu as a journalist par excellence who had stamped his imprimatur on the noble profession, Agbese however stated that as a former image maker of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Shehu had called the bluff of those who had wanted to put democracy on hold.

Also speaking, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said his government had mooted the idea to honour Malam Garba Shehu for his immense contribution to the journalism profession, stressing that an icon of his ilk ought to have their names written in gold.