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Friday 29 May 2015

Full Text of President Buhari's Inaugural speech

Below is what the new president said;
I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.
I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are. With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation. Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country.

I would like to thank the millions of our supporters who believed in us even when the cause seemed hopeless. I salute their resolve in waiting long hours in rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes and stay all night if necessary to protect and ensure their votes count and were counted. I thank those who tirelessly carried the campaign on the social media.

At the same time, I thank our other countrymen and women who did not vote for us but contributed to make our democratic culture truly competitive, strong and definitive. I thank all of you. Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book, I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless.

There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue. Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethenen should rest assured that Nigeria under our administration will be ready to play any leadership role that Africa expects of it. Here I would like to thank the governments and people of Cameroon, Chad and Niger for committing their armed forces to fight Boko Haram in Nigeria.

I also wish to assure the wider international community of our readiness to cooperate and help to combat threats of cross-border terrorism, sea piracy, refugees and boat people, financial crime, cyber crime, climate change, the spread of communicable diseases and other challenges of the 21 st century.

At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on. Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems.

In recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our mission. Our founding fathers, Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita, Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their colleagues worked to establish certain standards of governance. They might have differed in their methods or tactics or details, but they were united in establishing a viable and progressive country.

Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house. Furthermore, we as Nigerians must remind ourselves that we are heirs to great civilizations: Shehu Othman Dan fodio’s caliphate, the Kanem Borno Empire, the Oyo Empire, the Benin Empire and King Jaja’s formidable domain.

The blood of those great ancestors flow in our veins. What is now required is to build on these legacies, to modernize and uplift Nigeria. Daunting as the task may be it is by no means insurmountable. There is now a national consensus that our chosen route to national development is democracy. To achieve our objectives we must consciously work the democratic system. The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of government.

The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate within the Constitution. We shall rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and more serviceable. We shall charge them to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system. For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously. The judicial system needs reform to cleanse itself from its immediate past.

The country now expects the judiciary to act with dispatch on all cases especially on corruption, serious financial crimes or abuse of office. It is only when the three arms act constitutionally that government will be enabled to serve the country optimally and avoid the confusion all too often bedeviling governance today. Elsewhere relations between Abuja and the States have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better.

Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked.

 As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch. However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they can not succeed without the support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations. I appeal to employers and workers alike to unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share in increased prosperity. The Nigerian press is the most vibrant in Africa.

My appeal to the media today – and this includes the social media – is to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism. My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people. For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our education.

We have to look at the whole field of medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure. The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory can not be achieved by basing the Command and Control Centre in Abuja. The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we can not claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents. This government will do all it can to rescue them alive.

Boko Haram is a typical example of small fires causing large fires. An eccentric and unorthodox preacher with a tiny following was given posthumous fame and following by his extra judicial murder at the hands of the police. Since then through official bungling, negligence, complacency or collusion Boko Haram became a terrifying force taking tens of thousands of lives and capturing several towns and villages covering swathes of Nigerian sovereign territory. Boko Haram is a mindless, godless group who are as far away from Islam as one can think of. At the end of the hostilities when the group is subdued the Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a reccurrence of this evil. For now the Armed Forces will be fully charged with prosecuting the fight against Boko haram.

We shall overhaul the rules of engagement to avoid human rights violations in operations. We shall improve operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human right violations by the Armed Forces. Boko Haram is not only the security issue bedeviling our country. The spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, herdsmen/farmers clashes, cattle rustlings all help to add to the general air of insecurity in our land.

We are going to erect and maintain an efficient, disciplined people – friendly and well – compensated security forces within an over – all security architecture. The amnesty programme in the Niger Delta is due to end in December, but the Government intends to invest heavily in the projects, and programmes currently in place. I call on the leadership and people in these areas to cooperate with the State and Federal Government in the rehabilitation programmes which will be streamlined and made more effective. As ever, I am ready to listen to grievances of my fellow Nigerians. I extend my hand of fellowship to them so that we can bring peace and build prosperity for our people. No single cause can be identified to explain Nigerian’s poor economic performance over the years than the power situation.

It is a national shame that an economy of 180 million generates only 4,000MW, and distributes even less. Continuous tinkering with the structures of power supply and distribution and close on $20b expanded since 1999 have only brought darkness, frustration, misery, and resignation among Nigerians. We will not allow this to go on. Careful studies are under way during this transition to identify the quickest, safest and most cost-effective way to bring light and relief to Nigerians. Unemployment, notably youth un-employment features strongly in our Party’s Manifesto. We intend to attack the problem frontally through revival of agriculture, solid minerals mining as well as credits to small and medium size businesses to kick – start these enterprises.

We shall quickly examine the best way to revive major industries and accelerate the revival and development of our railways, roads and general infrastructure. Your Excellencies, My fellow Nigerians I can not recall when Nigeria enjoyed so much goodwill abroad as now. The messages I received from East and West, from powerful and small countries are indicative of international expectations on us. At home the newly elected government is basking in a reservoir of goodwill and high expectations. Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our long – standing potential of pulling ourselves together and realizing our mission as a great nation.

Our situation somehow reminds one of a passage in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceasar There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life, Is bound in shallows and miseries. We have an opportunity. Let us take it.

Thank you Muhammadu Buhari
President Federal Republic of NIGERIA and Commander in-chief-of the Armed forces

117 comments:

  1. Fucking nomad

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    1. You be idiot

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    2. You're a retard. Extra senseless

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    3. Not idiot. Bastad

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    4. This person isnt just an idiot,this person must be retarded.....

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    5. Hahahaha!!!just kill urslf kawai!!nothing u c say or do will make a difference!! He is d president weda ur papa like am or not!!drink poison n die!

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  2. Replies
    1. "Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. "

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    2. To God be the Glory!!!! I've waited so long for this day......I feel blessed that this is happening in my lifetime....Solid foundation for true Democracy and Federalism#IBlessyouLord#

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  3. Welcome on board... lindaobserve

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  4. "Some of their successors behaved like spoilt children breaking everything and bringing disorder to the house"
    Pow! Pow! Serious shots at former presidents.
    I wish him the very best, we can't help but wish him well.

    ~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA

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  5. PMB my oga at the top...
    No need to read... I watched it life..

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  6. a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said..
    .
    I believe everything yu said abeg.... Our saviour is here.....
    .
    .
    ***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

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  7. Wow that's really a great speech. I pray the almighty God give u and your entourage the strength, wisdom and grace to lead us.

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  8. May God help you achieve all your set goals Sir! Linda take note!

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  9. May God help you achieve all your set goals Sir! Linda take note!

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  10. My President too dey quote Shakespere... LolM

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  11. Let's join Buhari to better this country. We are good to go. Isah 43:19

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  12. I like his speech.. please fix d light....

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  13. I like where he said, the command center will be relocated to maduguri

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  14. Well said baba Abeg tackle light and unemployment omo alapata o le ma je egun

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  15. As we experience dis change of leadership so shall we experience d needed changes in our individual lives.

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  16. I hope he mks life easy for us

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  17. I hope he mks life easy for us

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  18. I hope he mks life easy for us

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  19. Beautiful I am proud of you Sir,

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  20. I hope he mks life easy for us

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  21. I'm happy for him.. it's well.. Are you a woman looking to gain weight? Believe it not,
    you’re NOT alone. There are loads of women out there that
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  22. In action already. Kudos

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  23. Wonderful speech! May God gv u d wisdom to take our country forward..

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  24. Are u still hating him? Obviously ___

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    1. Linda, thanks alot for bringing today swearing in of d President, and other Governor's to us via ur post's. God bless u abundantly, and enlarge ur coast.

      GEJ, thank u for doing what u could for this country, for conceding defeat, and giving us peace. May God tak u frm grace to grace.

      GMB, and other newly sworn in Governor's, congrats, and I wish all of u d very best during ur tenure's in office. I pray u meet, and exceed d expectations of Nigerians.

      My fellow LIB reader's, as we experience dis change of leadership's, so shall we experience d needed changes in our individual lives.

      Shalom! Shalom!! Shalom!!!

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  25. my favorite line was ' i belong to everybody and i belong to nobody'

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  26. Wa gbayi Sir! I av read, chewed, re-chewed, swallowed and digested all You av sed. I can only see more reasons to say Jona, ko le ragba fun o! #BabaNowthatYou'reThere, ise ti ya! #hope#Hope#Hope.

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  27. A purpose driven speech...May God grant you the strength to see it through.

    »»»Be the change you desire!

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  28. well said . may Allah guide you

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  29. Well delivered Mr. President. My joy is that the Nigerian Army HQ would be immediately be relocated to Maiduguri to see to the end of Boko Haram in Borno rather from Abuja. On the other hand, Niger Delta Amnesty program due to end in December? Great news to end an unproductive and baseless campaign to curb militancy.

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  30. Now my fellow Nigerians, that's a PRESIDENT!!! You are no magician but please don't let us down.

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  31. I love Bubari. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. Hope Tinubu understood o.

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    1. But why are u guys so scared of tinubu? Dt is all u heard in d speech. What dt meant was dt hes d president of d whole of Nigeria, not just his region, APC or PDP. And pple shldnt think he will witchunt. What exactly did tinubu ever do to you?

      You guys are literally so stupid. Instead of thinking abt how dis govt shld change ur life or ur region or how to get an igbo nominee in 2019. It is Tinubu ur thinking abt. Truly crazy. Raise d level of ur conversations among yourselves please. Its sad.

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  32. President Buhari has touched so many aspects that needs immediate solution in his Inaugural speech. And I want to urge every one of Us to support and work with this new Government to ensure we Witness the CHANGE we all deserve. God be with us All

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  33. I believe Nigeria will be a grate nation under his watch!!!! #hiswatchbegins

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  34. God help us bcos there are a lot of monsters in this country

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  35. Na wa ooo d speech long, Linda how u dey get all this high class info sef

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  36. I hope he is not by any chance trying to tell us 2 giv him time becus that's wht we hate so much in this country. So his clock starts tickin now

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  37. APC made a positive change in lagos and I expect more from them now, that they are ruling the Nation, I know the present president as a decipline man. Everyone is looking up to him pls don't fail Nigerians . Don't allow religion, tradition or tribalism come as play in ur government . We are tired of it all, just be a good leader and set the best example for the youth to follow. May God give you the wisdom to move this country forward. Amen

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  38. I salute our new president , we look forward to a better Nigeria.

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  39. I salute our new president , we look forward to a better Nigeria.

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  40. God will help our President to achieve all this speech IJN #GodBlessNigeria

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  41. The change is here and has come to stay Nigerians it time for a new beginning I can feel it already we made a good choice long live our president long live Nigeria

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  42. amazing!...just.amazing

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  43. amazing!...just.amazing

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  44. "Constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments" Good talk

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  45. God bless you sir.

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  46. Sai Baba....i never regretted voting you. I know you will fulfill your promises, God will be with you always, my hero.

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  47. I wouldn't have put it any better. long maybe, but a very interesting read. I claim to be PDP by choice of political affiliation, but I am Nigerian by birth and only want the best for this country as you sir. SAI Buhari!!!!! we will work for better together for the progress, change and transformation of our beloved country.

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  48. Very good one. But his handlers should know that Jonathan should have been addressed as "former president Jonathan".

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  49. Great speech. Why do I feel he ran the speech by Zarrah? She looks like the guru of the house...she'd have read, re-read and edited it a thousand times! Lol..just saying sha! Intelligent daughter of an intelligent man!

    #itznenaD

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    1. Mscheew, shoro leleyi. Ode.

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  50. Shakespeare’s quote sha

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  51. Well said...We wait for implementation

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  52. WISHING YOU BEST OF LUCKS AS YOU HAVE PROMISED.WE ALSO PRAY FOR THE GRACE TO TRANSFORM NIGERIA TO A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO LIVE.
    GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

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  53. Wish u d best mr president, may God grant u wisdom and good advisers to achieve wat u have in mind

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  54. Wow! what a profound speech by my new president. May God help you realize all your goals for my great country, Nigeria.

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  55. Reassuring speech. All the problems I can think of were either covered deeply or mentioned briefly. God help my country God help my president

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  56. Olatunde Kenny29 May 2015 at 16:33

    God bless Nigeria....may Allah help u.

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  57. Olatunde Kenny29 May 2015 at 16:33

    God bless Nigeria....may Allah help u.

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  58. Even though I don't trust APC bcos they are all criminals who stole money at one point while they were still in PDP, I kind of like this man, I v this feeling he might do well. Meanwhile the statement today "I belong to everyone, I belong to nobody" OBJ, Tinubu, Amechi take note. Don't get too comfortable. y'all got to watch ya back

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  59. Well said sir. Congratulations Nigeria and Nigerians

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  60. well written ....isorai
    we r watching

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  61. To the Citizens of this New Dawn in Nigeria
    Change is:
    1) No more sitting down and accepting the status quo, protest and not just do memes for injustice we are man against man, and leaders are not gods.

    2) Say NO to tribalism not just btw Ibo and Hausa or Yoruba but within sub-ethnics itself, e.g. this one is from akwa ibom this one is from abia so we are different? It's the biggest draw back to growth in civilization what will we now do if we discover aliens.

    3) POWER, we accept it like its the NORM, i mean have you ever wondered what it entails to sort out the power sector even if it means scrapping the current framework and rebuilding from ground up. I mean the rest of the world is thinking about how to buy land in Mars. Yet the government wants us to be the highest consumers of our own Fuel. Recycling money that can not improve anything.

    4) Pls stop having so many babies like its a style. Many children are not raised right and end up adding to the problems of society and sociologically speaking it doesn't help our development family planning pls. Why have 4 - 6 kids and so on when you can do less and provide them with the best instead of providing below average standards and expecting luck to take its place.

    5) BIG-MANISM/Corruption - So ppl go to school these days not to find breakthroughs in sectors be it Telcoms/finance/IT/Agriculture and so on. PPl go to school and the ones that know the back-doors to circumvent stock prices/laws/hackers/etc are embraced just so to fuel corruption. And business men BIG-MANISM with their sub-standard practices fraudulent acts/racketeering/nepotism and co. Like they are ones lord and savior and the saying goes:If you cant beat them join them.

    6) NO matter the amount of money you still if you don't understand the principle of society it will never be enough and like a bag of rice it will finish one day. the world today is run on CAPITALISM meaning development through business with little govt interference or rather policies by govt to boost business in turn developing the economy. So money that cant be invested to bring returns for generations to come cant last. You are simply creating money for lenders in other countries you saved all your loots too. Plus the law of diminishing returns there is only so much money can buy. Then you have kids that grow-up and leaving nothing of a legacy for them to build upon just the competition of I will be richer or as rich ad my father....

    There are so many more issues and the best question to ask is WHY? let's be sensitive sit with the elderly and understand them and keep asking WHY and that way we can meet in the middle. Sometimes ppl are still fighting old battles within themselves hence, the way leaders behave. Everything has a ripple effect!!!

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    1. Why are u trying to claim south south? Sub ethnics ko, subethnos ni. The man from akwa ibom and d one from Abia are from two completely different ethnic groups. No similarities.

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  62. God bless Mr President

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  63. Nice Speech GMB, We all hope your tenure bring peace to our great nation Nigeria. Mean while, you all should go check out this phone store: http://pointekonline.com/affordable-accessories-ikeja-lagos-nigeria their price are simply the best, they buy directly from the phone manufacturers, and sell to whole sellers and end users at a highly discounted price. Their Delivery system is simply awesome, they deliver within 24 hours, and its FREE. Check out the store and Thank me later.

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  64. God Bless Mr President....God Bless the Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

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  65. Wow! Great speech.We pray for our new president,May God lead him to do what is right so our country can be great again. God bless Nigeria.

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  66. Great speech from a great man...ur tenure shall be of positive impact to our great nation *NIGERIA*

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  67. Great speech

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  68. My President, you're welcome. A great speech. Pls start implementation by the removal of oil subsidy immediately. It cannot be worse than the illegal hike that mindless marketers have foisted on hapless Nigerians.

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  69. Never seen or read an African Nation inaugural speech more precise, cut to chase, firm and magnanimous than this. He has the political-will to get the job done, May the good Lord grant him great health finish his term, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. B.A

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  70. I read it ! Shakesphere to end it! Nice 😁

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  71. GOD lead u and grant u the grace to fulfill all these promises..GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

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  72. GOD lead u and grant u the grace to fulfill all these promises..GOD BLESS NIGERIA.

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  73. Nice 1 baba. Sai buhari sai Nigeria

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  74. Buzz off all

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  75. My aboki president. Your excellence sir may you live long!

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  76. Well said my president, I pray God gives u wisdom to lead Nig..

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  77. Welcome on board mt President,may almighty God lead u on d right part of transformation

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  78. Long live Mr President

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  79. Medicare? For a moment it seemed Buhari was about to copy America's healthcare program for its seniors/elderly. Assuming it's a reference to the country's dismal healthcare situation, how is it this gets only a line/word in this whole diatribe? The challenges are beyond infrastructural if the healthcare sector is to be revamped.

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  80. I like what he said about boko haram, We here! we are happy, we'll pray for you baba

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  81. Onyenakazi Congress Johnvianney30 May 2015 at 05:26

    Being sentimental won't do us any good, we all have to unite as a nation and tackle the problems facing us, like he just said... keep your sentiments aside and see the picture clearly... good luck Mr President, we will all get there someday. thank you!

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  82. Nigerians wil nt regret dt have entrusted national responsibilities to us. Buhari pls dnt fail us

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  83. We look forward to a better Nigeria

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  84. To all those retards, who can't be matured about their comments, the "fucking Nomad" is here to stay so pls go and hug transformer. lol

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Linda Ikeji.

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