Tobias Sylvester
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has dismissed claims that President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for the hunger and high cost of living in the country.
Chris Ngige Defends Buhari
The minister spoke to newsmen on Wednesday in his hometown of Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to him, Buhari should be praised and not criticized because most parts of the world are also battling ‘hunger and high cost of living’ which the country is experiencing.
“I was the one who brought Buhari to the South East in 2015. As the South East Zonal Coordinator, I told the General that the bridge is critical to our people and the entire South, all the way up to North Central.
“The General asked if we could do it, and I said, ‘Why not?.’ The same question he asked at the Ziks Mausoleum completion, and he told me that if God made him president, he would construct the bridge and complete the abandoned mausoleum for our people.
“I was the one who brought to the fore in our South East campaign the Second Niger Bridge, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, and Enugu Airport renovation and remodelling, for which the Federal Government gave the Minister of Aviation, N10bn, the authority to execute the upgrade as critical infrastructural projects needed by the zone.
“Today, the tarmac was reconstructed and the runway expanded from one to three kilometres with modern night lighting systems and navigational aids and several other projects.
“So, President Buhari ought to be praised, but they will tell you that people are dying of hunger. Hunger is a global problem. If you go to the news, you will see white people protesting against hunger and the high cost of living in Europe and elsewhere,” he said
Ngige also reacted to the recent letter released by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he said the last seven years under the Buhari administration has been hell for Nigerians.
The minister questioned what poverty alleviation measures Obasanjo put in place while he ruled for eight years.
“Disregard those politicians who will come and tell you that the Buhari administration inflicted hardship and poverty on you.
“One of them wrote a letter the other day, the habitual national letter writer. It is easy to criticise,” he said
KanyiDaily recalls that Chris Ngige said if not for the “strong leadership” of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians would have become refugees in Cameroon and Niger Republic.
