Buharists, on Sunday, extolled former President Muhammadu Buhari sterling qualities, especially his pro-people agendas, his Spartan and forthright lifestyle even as the immediate past leader clocks 81.
A notable Buharist and former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, said this in a facilitation massage made available to journalists in Enugu.
Okechukwu noted that Buhari raised Nigeria and devoted his public service to service to the common man during his administration and other befitting services he rendered to the nation.
He recalled how Buhari raised a marshal plan to confront the challenge of food security in the country, regretting that insurgency slowed down the drive to make Nigeria the food basket of Africa.
Part of the statement reads: “It is with gratitude to Almighty God that we, the Buharists, celebrate and proclaim a hearty happy birthday cheer to our icon, former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on his 81 years on earth.
“As we, the Buharists wish him healthier and fruitful years ahead, we recognise that his birthday is the appropriate time to recount his pro-people policies, his resistance to World Bank’s anti-peoples policies, even as military Head of State.
“Billions of naira in bail-out funds were granted to state governments, social investment programmes, reduction of infrastructural deficit and the famous Buhari’s unprecedented agrarian revolution to enhance Nigerians prosperity.
“We, the Buharists, make bold to state that because of his passion for food security he invested more than any other Federal Government in agriculture post 1970.
“Regrettably, we lament the truism that palpable insecurity diminished his quest for food security as his credo was, we must produce what we eat.”
Okechukwu said that Buharists, therefore, appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to continue with some of the laudable programmes, particularly “Buhari’s Agrarian Revolution”.
According to him, these programmes included the Green Imperative Programme designed to mechanise agriculture nationwide and Anchor Borrowers Programme under whatever nomenclature.
“We are happy that President Tinubu promised to continue with our icon’s initiatives, because that is a befitting way to honour the image of this great Nigerian who loves the poor and cares for the nation,” he added.
