President-elect retired General Muhammadu
Buhari succeed.
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Buhari succeed.
Jonathan spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
yesterday when he received a delegation of the
Federal Capital Territory residents led by his vice,
Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who paid him Easter
homage.
The president described Easter, as a period of
sacrifice.
He said: “Whenever we talk about this period, the
key lesson there is sacrifice. Somebody sacrificed
for our own salvation.
“Now, Buhari is coming on board; it is not about
supporting Buhari or government, but what
sacrifice, as individuals, are you willing to make
for government and for the nation?”
He asked whether Nigerians would be ready to
make the sacrifice of backing Buhari if he should
increase Value Added Tax (VAT) from five to 10
percent.
There is already a proposal in the medium term
expenditure framework now before the National
Assembly to increase VAT from five percent.
The President said: “In the ECOWAS sub-region
for example, Nigeria has the lowest VAT, other
countries pay up to 12 percent.
“If for instance, Buhari decides to increase VAT
from 5 to 10 percent, will Nigerians support him?
That is sacrifice, and we must make sacrifice.”
The president maintained that no government
would survive if the citizens, especially
businessmen, refuse to pay tax.
“If you are a businessman and you say you are
supporting government, but you don’t pay tax;
how do you expect that government to survive?
That government will not survive,” he said.
He recalled that as a deputy governor in Bayelsa
State his people used to come to him to pledge
their loyalty. He said he often responded, “Don’t
tell me you are loyal; tell me you are patriotic to
the country and that you believe in Bayelsa State.
“To me, whenever I travel to different countries
and see things work, those things didn’t fall down
as many people made sacrifice.
“Therefore, in Nigeria, people must also be ready
to make the required sacrifice. Whoever becomes
president is immaterial so long as the citizens are
happy; our children go to school, when they are
sick, they go to good hospital and of course, the
economy blossoms.
“Nation building depends on the sacrifices of
individuals and the patriotism of the citizens.
These are two key elements.
“We are talking about Boko Haram or terror;
soldiers are dying for us to live, police are dying
for us to live. That is sacrifice. As individuals, you
don’t need to die, but there are various roles you
need to play. You must make sacrifice.
“The economy of China was threatened, but they
locked up themselves for a period of time. And by
the time they opened their doors, they become
even a threat to the biggest economy.
“Are we ready for that kind of sacrifice for the
government? Whenever we talk of Easter, these
are the key lessons of sacrifice”, Jonathan said.
The president reminisced about his years of
service from being the deputy governor of Bayelsa
State to being the nation’s number one citizen
and said: “I think it is enough”.
The president said since 1999, he had been in a
cage “being taken care of by the government”.
“For me as an individual, this Easter coincides
with the time I’m leaving. But I always say that
I’m one of the luckiest Nigerians. I’m yet to see
somebody luckier than me. From 1999, I was in
the hands of government for 16 years.
“I was in a cage, being taken care of by the
government. From May 29, 1999 to date; 16 good
years! I think it is enough and I am happy. Help
me to thank God for that ...Today is a glorious
day for me.”
Those in the delegation were Secretary to the
Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim;
Chief of Staff Jones Arogbofa; Head of Service
Danladi Kifasi; Archbishop of the Anglican Church
of Nigeria Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; Catholic
Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan;
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian
Pilgrims Commission John Kennedy-Opara; Chief
Imam of the National Mosque Alhaji Muhammed
Musa, among others.
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