President Muhammadu Buhari welcoming Cardinal John Onaiyekan during the Christmas homage to the President by FCT residents at the Presidential Villa . With them is Senate President Bukola Saraki

President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined all those in leadership positions across all strata of the society to come together and pull the country out of its current challenges.

He made the call on Friday when he received a cross section of residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led by the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, who paid him Christmas homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, Nigeria’s main problem is how to get the right leadership in place for the general good of the society.

He said that “for the leaderships at various stages, both civil and spiritual, we need to be patient in managing the society.

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Abuja Chapter , Pastor Israel Akanji, presenting a Christmas Card on behalf of the Christian community to President Muhammadu Buhari when FCT residents paid a Christmas Homage on the President at the Presidential Villa . Others are Senate President Bukola Saraki, Executive Secretary of Nigerian Pilgrims Commission Mr. Kennedy Opara, and FCT Minister Mohammed Bello.

“We need to come together and pull the country out of these problems that we find ourselves, everybody in the world believes that Nigeria is a lucky country because of its natural resources.

“Our problem is how to organise ourselves and how to get the right leadership in place.’’

On security challenges, Buhari said no society developed in an atmosphere of insecurity and social discontent.

He, therefore, maintained that his administration was determined to persuade the Boko Haram militants if they could be persuaded to allow peace to reign in the country.

The President expressed concern over the pathetic conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in some parts of the country and urged Nigerians to partner with government in uplifting the quality of life of the IDPs.

He commended the security agencies, the Victims Support Fund led by Retired Gen. T. Y. Danjuma and the G-7 for their support and assistances to the IDPs.

He added that “we appreciate that the security agencies are doing their best and their best is showing and we have to continue praying for them.

“There can be no development without security; we have to continue to pray.

“If we have two million people as IDPs and 70 per cent are women and children and 30 per cent of them are children, some them are orphans, they will grew up not knowing their parents, tradition or culture, then, as leaders we have a weighty responsibility to ensure that infrastructure for the orphans are taken care of.

“As leaders, we must realise that the most important thing for those children is that they must not be denied education; schools must be rebuilt.

“We also thank (Victims Support Fund) Danjuma and the G-7 led by the U.S.; they have been doing their best to help Nigeria to train our military and provide support to the IDPs and areas affected by the insurgency.’’

Earlier, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello and the leader of the Christian community in Abuja, Rev. Israel Akanji, had commended the President for his vision and leadership qualities.

Akanji urged Nigerians, irrespective of socio-political backgrounds, to support and show more understanding to the various policies and programmes of the government meant to pull the country out of its challenges.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of Christmas cards to President Buhari by various groups in the FCT.