FOR THE RECORD
INAUGURAL SPEECHES OF NIGERIAN PRESIDENTS,
1999-2015, COMPILED AND EDITED BY OREDOLA ADEOLA
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| OLUSEGUN OBASANJO , 1999-2007 |
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| MUSA YAR' ADUA, 2007-2010 |
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| MOHAMMADU BUHARI, 2015- |
1. PRESIDENT BUHARI’S
INAUGURAL SPEECH
Inaugural speech by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May, 2015
Inaugural speech by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari following his swearing-in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29th May, 2015
KEYNOTE - ‘’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.’’
We are going to tackle head on the challenges of insecurity, pervasive
corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power
shortages are the immediate concerns.
STRENTHNING TIES OF INTERNATIONAL
AND REGIONAL RELATION
Our neighbours in the Sub-region and our African brethren
should be 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 21st century.
NATIONAL INTEGRATION
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.
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.
LEGISTLATIVE FREEDOM
The Federal Executive under my watch will not seek to
encroach on the duties and functions of the Legislative and Judicial arms of
government. For their part the legislative arm must keep to their brief of
making laws, carrying out over-sight functions and doing so expeditiously.
RULE OF LAW
The law enforcing authorities will be charged to operate
within the Constitution.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
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.
JUDICIARY REFORM
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.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
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 cannot 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.
COOPERATION WITH LABOUR AND MEDIA
However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they cannot 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.
However, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are they cannot 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.
ECONOMY
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.
EDUCATION
For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our
education.
HEALTH
We have to look at the whole field of medicare.
INFRASTRUCTURE
We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure.
INSURGENCY
The most immediate is Boko Haram’s insurgency. Progress has
been made in recent weeks by our security forces but victory cannot 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. This government will do all it can to rescue the
Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents alive.
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 connection to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a recurrence 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 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 connection to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a recurrence 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
NIGER DELTA AMNESTY
PROGRAMME
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.
POWER
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
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.
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.
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2. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN
INAUGURAL SPEECH 2011
President Goodluck Jonathan of
Nigeria
KEYNOTE- The transformation Agenda will
be achieved in all the critical sectors, we plan to grow the economy, create
jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people. The urgent task of my
administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities
to flourish.
ECONOMIC MASTERPLAN
The moment is right. The signs are
heart-warning. We are ready to take off on the path of sustained growth and economic
development. In our economic strategy, there will be appropriate policy support
to the real sector of the economy, so that Small and Medium Enterprises may
thrive. Nigeria is blessed with enormous natural wealth, and my Administration
will continue to encourage locally owned rapidly expanding population. But this
must be a collaborative effort.
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
We must form technical land
financial partnerships with global businesses and organizations. We live in an
age where no country can survive on its own. countries depend on each other for
economic well-being. Nigeria is no different. Returns on investment in Nigeria
remain among the highest in the world. We will continue to welcome sustainable
investment in our economy.
We will push programs and policies
that will benefit both local and foreign businesses, but we must emphasize
mutual benefits and win-win relationships.
The overall ongoing reforms in the
banking and financial sectors are therefore designed to support the real sector
of the economy.
POWER REFORM
To drive our overall economic
vision, the power sector reform is at the heart of our industrialization
strategy. I call on all stakeholders, to co-operate with my administration, to
ensure the success of the reforms.
INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT
Over the next four years, attention
will be focused on rebuilding our infrastructure.
EDUCATION, HEALTH AND AGRICULTURE – JOB CREATION
We will create greater access to
quality education and improved health care delivery, we will pay special
attention to the agricultural sector, to enable it play its role of ensuring
food security and massive job creation for our people.
ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION
The creation of the Nigerian
Sovereign Investment Authority will immensely contribute to strengthening our
fiscal framework, by institutionalizing savings of our commodity-related
revenues. With this mechanism in place, we will avoid the boom and bust cycles,
and mitigate our exposure to oil price volatility.
NIGER
DELTA AMNESTY PROGRAMME
The lesson we have learnt is that the resolution of the Niger Delta issue is crucial for the health of the nation.
The lesson we have learnt is that the resolution of the Niger Delta issue is crucial for the health of the nation.
ANTI CORRUPTION WAR
The bane of corruption shall be met
by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of
this scourge. The fight against corruption is a war in which we must all
enlist, so that the limited resources of this nation will be used for the
growth of our common wealth.
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RELATION
We owe ourselves and posterity the
duly of making this country respectable in the comity of nations. Nigeria, as a
responsible member of the international community, will remain committed to the
maintenance of global peace and security. We will continue to play an active
role in the United Nations. Our role in the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Gulf
of Guinea will be enhanced to ensure greater human and energy security.
We fought for decolonization , we will now fight for democratization. Nigeria, in partnership with the African Union, will lead the process for democracy and development in Africa in particular. We will support the consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in the continent. Africa must develop its vast resources to tackle poverty and under development.
We fought for decolonization , we will now fight for democratization. Nigeria, in partnership with the African Union, will lead the process for democracy and development in Africa in particular. We will support the consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in the continent. Africa must develop its vast resources to tackle poverty and under development.
INSECURITY
Conscious of the negative effect of
insecurity on growth and development, my administration will seek collaboration
at bilateral and multilateral levels, to improve our capability in combating
trans-border crimes. In this regard, we will intensify our advocacy against the
illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, which have become the catalyst
for conflicts on the African continent.
DIPLOMATIC MISSION
All Nigerian diplomatic missions
abroad are to accord this vision of defending the dignity of humanity the
highest priority.
Join me now as begin the journey of transforming Nigeria
* I will continue to fight, for your future, because I am one of you.
* I will continue to fight, for improved medical care for all our citizens
* I will continue to fight for all citizens to have access to first class education
* I will continue to fight, for electricity to be available to all our citizens
* I will continue to fight, for an efficient and affordable public transport system for all our people
* I will continue to fight for jobs to be created through productive partnerships.
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3. Inaugural Address of Umaru Musa Yar’adua, President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and Commander-In-Chief of The Armed Forces, May 29, 2007.
ELECTORAL REFORM
We acknowledge that our elections had some shortcomings. Thankfully, we have well-established legal avenues of redress, and I urge anyone aggrieved to pursue them. I also believe that our experiences represent an opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Accordingly, I will set up a panel to examine the entire electoral process with a view to ensuring that we raise the quality and standard of our general elections, and thereby deepen our democracy.
VISION 2020
ELECTORAL REFORM
We acknowledge that our elections had some shortcomings. Thankfully, we have well-established legal avenues of redress, and I urge anyone aggrieved to pursue them. I also believe that our experiences represent an opportunity to learn from our mistakes. Accordingly, I will set up a panel to examine the entire electoral process with a view to ensuring that we raise the quality and standard of our general elections, and thereby deepen our democracy.
VISION 2020
Today we are talking about Nigeria’s potential, to become
one of the 20 largest economies in the world by the year2O2O. That is a measure
of how far we have come. And we thank you.
The 7-point agenda
ECONOMIC GROWTH
We will focus on accelerating economic and other reforms in
a way that makes a concrete and visible difference to ordinary people. Our
economy already has been set on the path of growth. Now we must continue to do
the necessary work to create more jobs, lower interest rates, reduce inflation,
and maintain a stable exchange rate. All this will increase our chances for
rapid growth and development.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Central to this is rebuilding our
basic infrastructure. We already have comprehensive plans for mass
transportation, especially railroad development. We will make these
plans a reality. We will concentrate on rebuilding our physical infrastructure
and human capital in order to take our country forward.
POWER
We must devote our best efforts to overcoming the energy
challenge. Over the next four years we will see dramatic improvements in power
generation, transmission and distribution. These plans will mean little if we
do not respect the rule of law.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POLICE REFORM
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POLICE REFORM
Our government is determined to strengthen the capacity of
law enforcement agencies, especially the police. The state must fulfill its
constitutional responsibility of protecting life and property.
NIGER DELTA AMNESTY
PROGRAMME
The crisis in the Niger Delta commands our urgent attention.
Ending it is a matter of strategic importance to our country. I will use every
resource available to me, with your help, to address this crisis in a spirit of
fairness, justice, and cooperation. We have a good starting point because our
predecessor already launched a master plan that can serve as a basis for a
comprehensive examination of all the issues. We will involve all stakeholders
in working out a solution. As part of this effort, we will move quickly to
ensure security of life and property, and to make investments safe. As we work to resolve the challenges of the
Niger Delta, so must we also tackle poverty throughout the country.
HEALTH CARE
By fighting poverty, we fight disease. We will make advances
in public health, to control the scourge of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other
diseases that hold back our population and limit our progress.
ANTI-CORRUPTION
We are determined to intensify the war against corruption, more so because corruption is itself central to the spread of poverty. Its corrosive effect is all too visible in all aspects of our national life. This is an area where we have made significant progress in recent years, and we will maintain the momentum.
EDUCATION
We are determined to intensify the war against corruption, more so because corruption is itself central to the spread of poverty. Its corrosive effect is all too visible in all aspects of our national life. This is an area where we have made significant progress in recent years, and we will maintain the momentum.
EDUCATION
We also are committed to rebuilding our human capital, if we
are to support a modern economy. We must revive education in order to create
more equality, and citizens who can function more productively in today’s
world.
REGIONAL COHENSION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATION
To our larger African family, you have our commitment to the
goal of African integration. We will continue to collaborate with fellow
African states to reduce conflict and free our people from the leg chains of
poverty. To all our friends in the international community, we pledge our
continuing fidelity to the goals of progress in Africa and peace in the world.
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4. PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN
OBASANJO’S Inaugural
speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja on 29 May 1999
Rampant corruption
Fight corruption
"Government officials became
progressively indifferent to propriety of conduct and showed little commitment
to promoting the general welfare of the people and the public good.
"Government and all its
agencies became thoroughly corrupt and reckless.
"Besides, it has destructed and
retrogressed development. Our Infrastructures - roads, railways, education,
housing and other social services were allowed to decay and collapse.
Genuine renaissance
"Fellow Nigerians, let us rise
as one to face the task ahead and turn this daunting scene into opportunities
in a new dawn.
"Let us make this the beginning
of a genuine renaissance. Fellow Nigerians, the entire Nigerian scene is very
bleak indeed; so bleak, people ask me: Where do we begin?
Significant changes
"With God as our guide and with
120 million Nigerians working with me with commitment, sustained effort and
determination we shall not fail.
"On my part, I will give the
forthright, purposeful, committed, honest, and transparent leadership that the
situation demands.
"I am determined, with your
full co-operation to make significant changes within a year of my
administration.
"Together, we shall take steps
to halt the decline in the human development indices as they apply to Nigeria.
"All the impacts of bad
governance on our people that are immediately removable will be removed while
working for medium and long-term solutions.
"Corruption, the greatest
single bane of our society today, will be tackled head-on at all levels.
"Corruption is incipient in all
human societies and in most human activities, but it must not be condoned.
"This is why laws are made and
enforced to check corruption so that society will survive and develop in an
orderly, reasonable, and predictable way.
"No society can achieve
anything near its full potential if it allows corruption to become the
full-blown cancer it has become in Nigeria.
"One of the greatest tragedies
of military rule in recent times is that corruption was allowed to grow
unchallenged and unchecked even when it was glaring for everybody to see.
"Rules and regulations for
doing official business were deliberately ignored, set aside, or by-passed to
facilitate corrupt practices.
"There will be no sacred cows.
Nobody, no matter who and where will be allowed to get away with the breach of
the law or the perpetration of corruption and evil."
Civil Service reforms
"Under this administration,
therefore, all the rules and regulations designed to help honesty and
transparency in dealing with government will be restored and enforced.
"Specifically, I will
immediately reintroduce civil service rules and financial instructions and
enforce compliance.
"Other regulations will be
introduced to ensure transparency.
"The rampant corruption in the
public service and the cynical contempt for integrity that pervades every level
of the bureaucracy will be stamped out.
"The public officer must be
encouraged to believe once again that integrity pays and self-respect must be
restored and his work must be fairly rewarded through better pay and benefits -
both while he is in service and in retirement.
Restore confidence
"I am very aware of the
widespread cynicism and total lack of confidence in government, arising from
the bad faith, deceit and evil actions of recent administrations.
"Where official pronouncements
are repeatedly made and not met by action, government forfeits the confidence
of the people and their trust.
"One of the immediate acts of
this administration will be to implement quickly and decisively measures that
will restore confidence in governance.
"These measures will help to
create the auspicious atmosphere necessary for the reforms and the difficult
decisions and the hard work required to pull the country back on the path of
development and growth. "
Quality cabinet
"I will need good men and women
of proven integrity and record of good performance to help me in my cabinet.
"I appreciate that the quality
and calibre of the members of my cabinet and top appointments will send a
positive or negative signal to Nigerians and the international community as to
the seriousness of the administration to make salutary changes.
"In a difficult and abnormal
situation, great care and circumspection are called for in appointments to the
cabinet and high public positions.
"To be appointed a minister, or
to any other public office is not a license to loot the treasury."
"It is a call to national
service. It is one of the best ways of rendering dedicated service to humanity.
"In this administration, being
a minister or holding any other public office will not deprive you of what you
have before you come into office, but you will not be allowed to have conflict
of interest, abuse of office, or illicit acquisitions.
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