Nigerians now fare better under Buhari, says Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday, said life is now better for Nigerians under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor noted that in less than three months of assuming office, Nigerians had started to feel the impact of Buhari’s leadership style.

Oshiomhole said this during the 27th annual education conference of textile workers in Kaduna.

The conference had as its theme, “Buhari administration: Revival of the textile industry and employment creation.”

“I understand now that electricity supply is stable. It is just the fear of Buhari that led to the stability of power supply,” he said.

He noted that the Federal Capital Territory that was noted for darkness because the streetlights were not functioning, is now aglow at night.

Oshiomhole said it is no longer business as usual, noting that he was proud to be a Nigerian.

“The streetlights were not functioning but immediately Buhari was inaugurated, the lights came up. There is hope for Nigerians under President Buhari,” he added.

The governor called on the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to end its crisis in order to support the government of President Buhari.

Oshiomhole noted that the collapse of the textile industry was not due to inadequate funding.

He said the industry failed because of bad administration and corruption.

According to him, the textile industry needs a cohorent policy, noting that with President Buhari at the helm of affairs, the wrongs of the past would be corrected.

He asked the Nigeria Customs Service not to aid smugglers, warning that Buhari would not tolerate corruption .

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who was at the conference, said he was committed to the revival of the textile industry in the state and warned that “anybody that stands against our resolve to revive this sector will be dealt with.”

He said the 25 megawatts of electricity from the Gurrara Dam would be channelled for industrial use in the state and urged the Federal Government to speedily complete the Kudenda Power Plant for the same purpose.

Meanwhile, the National President of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Oladele Hunsu, said no fewer than 120,000 Nigerians lost their jobs as a result of the closure of textile industries across the country.

“The revival of the textile industry in the state is a matter of life and death but we prefer life. At least, 104 textiles factories have closed down due to unfavourable working conditions,” he said.

He noted that with the renewed commitment of the present administration of Buhari, the union was hopeful that the industries would be resuscitated.