Voice of Nigeria director-general lauds Buhari’s anniversary speech

Says he has renewed his bond with Nigerians

The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the bond with Nigerians in his Independence anniversary message.

He said he had shown that the overall interest of the nation was paramount in his administration.In a statement in Enugu yesterday, Okechukwu, who condemned the negative reactions, which trailed the President’s anniversary speech, stated that he (Buhari) had used the occasion to provide clear explanation on how he had lifted the people from a near hopeless situation in the last two years.

“He renewed the bond in the early morning Independence anniversary speech where he took time to explain how he expended N1.6 trillion on salary and pension arrears of civil servants and retired ones. The bond remains intact, no matter whatever anybody says,” he stated.

Okechukwu also took a swipe at the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo over their comments on the President’s speech, saying, “”Ask my big brother, Chief Nnia Nwodo, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, whether he replied the profound congratulatory letter President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to him immediately he was elected?

“It will be recalled that the President was confronted with the crisis of hunger and dire situation in some states and minor ones owing salaries ranging from six months to 18 months and pension arrears of many years.

“One school of thought cautioned the President to leave the states and their burden. That Nigeria is a federation and each federating units should use their allocations and internally generated revenues to solve routine items like salary and pension arrears,” the statement said.