Lai Mohammed defends Buhari's Independence Speech

The Independence Day Speech by President Buhari has drawn criticism from several Nigerians. However, Nigeria’s Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, has given reasons Nigerians should stop criticizing it.
In an interview on Africa Independent Television's (AIT) current affairs programme 'Focus Nigeria', the minister said the president said all the right things. Lai Mohammed, in the president's defence said: “I think it depends on how the people look at the Independence Day speech of President Muhammadu Buhari. The President started with what I think is the most important thing: The unit of this country.
 Then he went to the issue of security; the issue of the economy and then the issue of fighting corruption. I think these are issues that are genuine; these are issues without which we cannot move forward. He is telling us that if we don’t have a secured country, there won’t be any development. “If we do not have unity, there won’t be any development. Mr. President is taking advantage of history to say that ‘I have fought in a civil war before and I know the horrors of a civil war that its not a joke and nobody should even toil with it.’ "I think Mr. President was very frank and he expressed his concern on what he thinks is important to this country. “And of course, if the President does not talk about the achievements of the government on that day, what else is he supposed to talk about? Nigerians don’t want to hear what you want to do as much as what you have done.” Also, while speaking on the same programme 'Focus Nigeria', Lai Mohammed revealed why despite the “revolution” witnessed in the agricultural sector, the cost of food items remains high.