Barely 24 hours to the expiration of his 8years tenure President Muhammadu on Sunday, in Abuja, said his administration is leaving Nigeria much better than it met it in 2015, while expressing fulfilment in his performance so far as he retires home to Daura, Katsina State, after handing over to President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahned Tinubu, on Monday.
He said, “I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015,” Buhari said in his farewell address aired on the Nigerian Television Authority, early Sunday.
However, Buhari while congratulating his successor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, called on Nigerians to support the incoming administration to “sustain the gains made so far.”
“To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.”
“You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am leaving.”
President Buhari also hinted that he will be retiring to his home town in Dura after handing over to the new administration.
According to Buhari, “As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation.”
On insecurity, Buhari said that his administration has made tremendous efforts in curtailing terrorists attacks, banditry, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
“Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.”
“To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.”
Meanwhile, the President admitted to making some difficult choices in the course of revamping the economy, while apologising to Nigerians for the decision as he said that it later yielded positive results.
“In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country.”