Attacking Buhari for Russian trip is unfair – Sajoh

Ahmad Sajoh, member Board of Trustee of Mindshift Advocacy for Development Initiative, has described as unfair the criticism of recent President Muhamnadu Buhari’s visit to Russian by a national newspaper.

Sajoh who is the immediate past Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Adamawa said the newspapers action looked more like being inspired by the opposition.

“It’s misinformed, parochial and probably with all respect opposition inspired. If not opposition inspired, I don’t expect a reputable national paper to begin to criticize officially using their position as editorial on something that is not only legitimate but beneficial to the country,” Sajoh said.

He explained that Buhari as the president is the number one diplomat and better qualified to represent the nation in such gathering.

“He is also the number one sales person for this country and nobody has the capacity to market the country outside and be accepted as such like him because at the end of the day the bucks stop at his table.

“He is the Chief Public Office of this country. He is our reputation manager and in the best position to go and manage our reputation,” Sajoh said.

Sajoh noted that Buhari’s travels particularly the recent trip to Russia was a huge success citing the decision to complete Ajakuta Steel rolling mill, rail line from Lagos to Calabar and cooperation in areas of energy, petroleum, gas, trade, investment as well as defence and security among others

Sajoh also stressed the need for Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to improve the economy.

Sajoh, also a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Adamawa, made the call on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Yola.

He said that the support became necessary as part of sacrifice for the needed change.

Sajoh said measures like the closure of border and the move to borrow money from World Bank to improve power supply were some of the hard decisions recently taken to improve the economy.

“Nigerians need to know that Nigerian Government signed Africa Free Trade agreement and not free smuggling agreement that will deprive it of legitimate revenue and continue to do incalculable damage to our local agricultural production,’’ Sajoh said.

On the concern on debt burden over World Bank loan to boost power supply, Sajoh said Nigeria was not among the most indebted countries in the world and borrowing to fund power that was needed to boost the economy should be supported.

“When you have a steady power supply you are going to have multiplier effect, the power will ginger economic development at all levels.”

He also noted that the recent World Bank ranking of Nigeria as one of the top 10 most improved economies in the world showed that the administration was taking the right steps and deserved the support of all Nigerians.

Sajoh also lauded the formation of a team by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Policy Development and Analysis, to be holding monthly policy dialogue with key stakeholders on funding government programmes.

“The stakeholders are to help advise government on how to procure funds for some of its programmes.

“There is need to engage in a robust public engagement to enable the public understand the benefit of increase funding in the hands of government,” Sajoh said.