Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said
the Federal Government has credible evidence on the unrelenting
efforts of the political opposition and their cohorts to subvert the
government and cause mayhem in the country.
The Minister, who made the remarks at the 12th Annual Lai Mohammed
Ramadan Lecture in Oro, Kwara State, on Saturday, said the alarm the
government raised a few days ago, that the PDP and its presidential
candidate are doing everything possible to sabotage the Buhari
Administration, is credible.
“As you are aware, a few days ago we raised the alarm that either by
themselves or via their proxies, the PDP and its presidential
candidate are doing everything possible to sabotage the Buhari
Administration, generally overheat the polity and make Nigeria
seemingly ungovernable. Of course you are aware of similar alarms that
have been raised by the police, the military and the DSS.
“Our interventions are based on credible evidence, and no government
with the kind of evidence that we have, of plans to subvert the power
of the state, attack the nation’s economic live wire and generally
unleash mayhem on the polity, will keep quiet. The security agencies
are all alert to their responsibilities and will not sit by and allow
anyone to reverse the gains of our democracy under any guise,” he
said.
Alhaji Mohammed said since the government and the security agencies
raised the alarm, pseudo and partisan analysts have teamed up with the
spokesmen for the main opposition party and its presidential candidate
to either exhibit their ignorance or to engage in red herring and name
calling.
But he assured that the government will neither be distracted nor be dissuaded.
The Minister said as Muslim faithful observe the holy month of Ramadan
with fasting, prayers, self-purification, renewed focus on religion
and sense of community, it is appropriate to call on all Nigerians to
pray for ”our dear country, to pray for peace and unity”, especially
as the May 29th inauguration of the President approaches.
In his remarks, the Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, spoke on the challenges of food security in the country and
urged government at all levels and the communities to support and
promote peaceful co-existence among all those involved in food
production in the country.
“The food system itself is threatened across the length and breadth of
the country because the participants in the food chain – the farmers;
the fishermen; those in the livestock sector – all are challenged that
they cannot find enough resources be it land, fresh water or grass in
order to undertake and continue to support food production in the way
they hitherto.
“So, that brings a sense of urgency for us in the leadership, either at
the local government level or state government or the federal
government and community leaders to quickly address our minds on how
we can support all the groups to cooperate with each other and focus
their mind so that production can be increased,” he said.
The governor, who commended the Minister for sustaining the annual
lecture, expressed delight at the peaceful co-existence between
Muslims and Christians in Oro.
Dignitaries at the occasion included the Minister of Communication,
Alhaji Adebayo Shittu; Member of the House of Representatives from
Ekiti/Ifelodun/Isin/Oke-Ero federal constituency, Hon. Tunji Olawuyi:
National President, National Union of Road Transport
Workers, Alhaji Najim Yasin; the Kwara State Chairman of the APC,
Alhaji Bashir Bolarinwa and other party stalwarts and traditional
rulers.
