Former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh has disagreed with a former Chairman of the defunct Reformed APC, Buba Galadima, who claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari does not reward loyalty.
Momoh was National Chairman of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) founded by Buhari in 2011 while Galadima was National Secretary.
But in an interview last week, Galadima said he sacrificed his “life and blood for 16 years” for Buhari but got nothing in return.
However, Momoh said that while those who described the president as ungrateful might have their reasons, he could not share their sentiments.
“Those who say Buhari is ungrateful will have their reasons for saying so,” he told Independent.
“There are those who think they work for them to be rewarded. But having worked with Buhari over the years, they should look back and say ‘how much did I gain or lose working for Buhari?’
“I started working with Buhari since 2003 and I must tell you that I am one of those who were working in the political wing of The Buhari Organisation.
“In January 2011, I became the national chairman of CPC, a party founded by Buhari and I must tell you, I cannot be more grateful than any other because that position gave me the opportunity of coming to political limelight.
“Yes, I worked as the Media Director to the late Alex Ekwueme in 1998. I also worked with him during the 1999 and 2003 presidential elections.
“Then I was in PDP because I was a foundation member of the party. When I left PDP in 2003, my community donated me to Buhari and since that time, we have been together. I must tell you that till now, I have no reason whatsoever to regret my association with him.”
Asked if he had benefitted from his association with Buhari, the octogenarian said, “He has responded very positively to my community for that donation that was made to him.
“So, when people say they have not been compensated, like I said, compensation comes from God.
“As a person, I cannot say I have not even gained materially. I am the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Jos (UNIJOS).
“The fact is that the type of appointment I wanted because I don’t want to be stressed at my age. I was Minister at 46. At 80, do I want to be Minister again?
“What greater will I have than helping to grow an academic community, not just academically but spiritually?
“I am fulfilled. So, if people like Buba Galadima said they are not compensated, that sort of compensation should not be extended to people like me.
“Someone sent me a note last week and said Buhari has been ungrateful to me. I replied him by saying ‘How do you know that? Are you me? Did I ever complain to you?
“We must have attitude to life, which is everything we do, we must do it to the glory of God.”
He said it was not possible for the president to personally reward all the 15 million persons that voted for him in the 2015 presidential election that brought him to power.
“There are 15 million voters who gave Buhari the mandate in 2015, how many of them can he compensate with appointments? I don’t share that view that Buhari is ungrateful and that he rewards good deeds with ingratitude at all,” Momoh said.
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