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‘If There Are No Roads, No Security, What Can People Do?’ – The Week In Quotes

The world’s polity remains heated and leaders of various nations continue to seek ways to bring various crisis affecting individual countries under control.


 

The world’s polity remains heated and leaders of various nations continue to seek ways to bring various crisis affecting individual countries under control.

With 9/11 as a major global focus for the week, an extra light has been beamed on insurgency, security and the war against terror.

We have put together some quotes that drive home the message of what pressures the world is facing at this time and how Nigeria has fared in the course of the passing week.

These quotes also help paint a picture of some things to expect within the coming week, even as the world continues to battle COVID and seek efficient methods to restore the earth’s fragile peace.

1. “If there are no roads; if there is no security, what can the people do?”

President Muhammadu Buhari holds up a pair of scissors before commissioning a project during his visit to Imo State on September 9, 2021.

 

President Buhari in Imo State spoke about the pertinence of providing infrastructure and creating a secure environment for the masses.

 

2. “The external reasons we cite as reasons for our problems cannot thrive without severe internal weaknesses in our society. The chief weakness is a human one – our elite, our political, economic, and religious elite”.

File photo: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo represents President Muhammadu Buhari at a virtual Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS Member-States on the political developments in the Republics of Guinea and Mali on September 8, 2021.

 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria’s elite play a major role in aggravating the security challenges besetting the nation.

 

3. “Essentially, it’s about the fact that men and women are equal, in the sense of participation in society and in life in general. And in that sense I can say, ‘yes, I’m a feminist’.”

File photo: German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a press statement at the Chancellery in Berlin on March 25, 2021, following a European Union (EU) summit via video conference with EU leaders. (Photo by Michael Kappeler / POOL / AFP)

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel describes herself as a feminist, saying her position on equality between men and women had developed over the years.

 

4. “To me, that’s the central lesson of September 11th. It’s that at our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength.”

People walk among American flags displayed to commemorate lives lost in the 9/11 terror attack, on September 10, 2021 at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.(Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

 

President Biden speaks as America marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with solemn ceremonies given added poignancy by the recent withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban.

 

5. “President Alpha Conde is well.”

A screengrab taken from footage sent to AFP by a military source on September 5, 2021 shows the President of Guinea Conakry Alpha Conde after he was captured by army putschists during a coup d’etat in Conakry on September 5, 2021.MILITARY SOURCE / AFP

 

Envoys from the West Africa bloc ECOWAS say deposed Guinean President Alpha Conde is in good health, following the coup which set the nation on the edge.

 

6. “People were laughing that I lost my polling unit, but you know, it is democracy that won.”

A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

 

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State reacts to the conduct of local government elections in the North-West state, describing it as a victory for democracy.

 

7. “The north has always been behind in education, we’ve continuously been the disadvantaged region right from independence even though we’re given preferences, JAMB scores, and all that. That has not helped; in fact, it has made our people lazy.”

2020 UTME: JAMB Releases New Batch Of Results
JAMB logo.

 

 

Governor Nasir El-Rufai says lowering cut-off marks for northern students by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will not make them as competitive as they ought to be.

 

8. “NARD goes about telling Nigerians that government is owing them salaries and that government is not taking the problems in the health sector serious. But this is not true. It is incorrect. No doctor, nurse, pharmacist or any other health worker including the driver is owed monthly salary. Government pays as and when due.”

File photo of the Minister of Labour and Employment, dr Chris Ngige

 

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says contrary to what he described as propaganda by the striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), no doctor or health worker in Nigeria is owed their monthly salary.

 

9. “Why do we need to allow Fulani from all these countries to come and destroy our land? That is the point we are saying. They have given unnecessary stress and risks to our security agencies in Nigeria.”

File photo of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom

 

Governor Samuel Ortom speaks about the degeneration of security breaches in Benue State.

10. “Yes, we’ve had serious security challenges. They were inherited by the Buhari administration, and they mutated and became hydra-headed. But a government exists to solve problems, and that is what President Buhari had been committed to doing.”

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, made an appearance on Channels Television on February 9, 2021.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina.

 

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina assures Nigerians that the insecurity ravaging the country will soon be a thing of the past.

11. ‘‘Nobody can accuse me of having companies or mansions anywhere in the country and I thank God that I try to keep myself as clean as possible so that I cannot be taken, hostage.”

File photo: President Buhari during a meeting with members of the NASS on Tuesday, July 13th, 2021. Photo: Facebook/Femi Adesina

 

President Muhammadu Buhari says he cannot be accused of having companies or mansions across the country, adding that he tries to keep himself clean so that he won’t be taken hostage by anyone.

12. “Our commitment to the unity and peace of Nigeria is irrevocable.”

President Muhammadu Buhari is flanked by Governor Hope Uzodinma during his visit to Imo State on September 9, 2021.

 

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, says his administration and the people of the state are committed to the peace of Nigeria.

13. “Could we, for example, work out an understanding with the UN, AU, Commonwealth and possibly, even the development finance institutions we are a part of to act in unity to suspend a country where there has been a seizure of power from all these bodies simultaneously?”

A file photo of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

 

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, calls for stricter measures taken against nations where military takes over government by force.

 

14. “Part of the crises in this country today is because of impunity.”

A file photo of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

 

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, identifies impunity as one of the major factors responsible for the security challenges in the country.

 

15. “A World Cup every two years could distort the most important football competition on the planet, lowering its quality and undermining its exclusive character and its current demanding standards.”

File photo: The World Cup winner’s trophy is seen during the 68th FIFA Congress at the Expocentre in Moscow on June 13, 2018. Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP

 

South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL hits out at FIFA proposals to stage the World Cup every two years, saying there was “no sporting justification” for shortening the window between tournaments.

 

16. “We wish to reiterate that the bank has not contemplated, and will never contemplate, any such line of action. The speculation is a completely false narrative aimed at triggering panic in the foreign exchange market.”

A file photo of the CBN Headquarters in Abuja.

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) urges Nigerians to ignore reports that domiciliary account operators have been directed to convert their holdings into naira.

 

17. “What we are doing to bandits is to send them to God, so they can answer their questions.”

A file photo of Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle.

 

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, says his administration will no longer grant amnesty to bandits in the state.

 

18. “Invisible voice says ‘sit at home?’ And, you just comply and lose money. You don’t know who says sit-at-home, you just lose money.”

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano

 

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano orders markets, banks, transport business owners, among others to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about their businesses from Monday, September 13.

 

19. “We must therefore show commitment to peace in words, action and other necessary means.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan speaks in Abuja on September 10, 2021.

 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan calls Nigerians to make sacrifices to tackle the numerous security challenges facing the country.

 

20. “Debts genuinely owed health workers will be settled.”

File photo: President Muhammadu Buhari presides over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on August 18, 2021.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari urges health workers, including members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to return to their duty posts.

21. ‘‘I will do my best to ensure that Nigerians that try hard, succeed in their efforts.’’

A file photo of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

Buhari vows to do all in his power to see that hardworking Nigerians succeed in their various endeavours.