PRESS STATEMENT. 


ON PRESIDENT BUHARI’S REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM WORLD BANK.

It is a matter of fact that I was present at the meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with the World Bank Group President Dr. Jim Yong Kim on July 21, 2015 at the Blair House, Washington DC. It is rather unfortunate that a patriotic request made by Mr. President and borne out of altruistic motivation is now being twisted, manipulated and politicized to suit certain political end. Mr. President made the request against the backdrop of the devastation of the North East zone and the need for international organizations to rise in support of the efforts of the Nigeria government in arresting the humanitarian crisis in that part of the country. The inhuman conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons were also discussed and Mr. President urged the World Bank to look into the best possible ways to address the crisis before it got out of hand. 

In Edo state at that period, the government I headed was also buffeted with the challenge of dealing with internally displaced persons who came to settle in the outskirts of Benin City without the knowledge of the state government. It took my personal intervention and the cooperation of Mr. President before we could offer our logistic assistance to make their location habitable to avert any humanitarian crisis. For those who are familiar with the devastation of the North East where over 20,000 persons have reportedly been killed with over 2 million internally displaced persons, it smacks of political notoriety for any rational mind to question the request of Mr. President. 

The idea of trying to read sectional meaning or ulterior motives to this genuine and patriotic request is grossly unfair, unfortunate and condemnable. It is instructive for us to know when to play politics and when not to play politics especially with serious developmental challenges such as the one under reference. One of the responsibilities of credible leadership is to know when and how to prioritize challenges of governance; and the humanitarian crisis in the North East was becoming an international embarrassment hence the request. 

President Buhari remains a statesman who is not only patriotic and altruistic in his intentions, but one whose actions speak volumes for our unity of purpose. We should see the country as one indivisible entity driven by common objectives and goals. 


Signed:

COMRADE ADAMS ALIYU OSHIOMHOLE, mni, CON