President Tinubu Ball He on Tuesday praised his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, saying he served Nigeria with “uncommon dedication and zeal.”
Tinubu stated this at the launch of two books titled: “Working with Buhari (2015 – 2023)” and “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy – 2015 – 2023 (five volumes)”, in Abuja.
The president said the former Nigerian leader stayed away after leaving office and does not interfere in any way in the current administration.
“After handing it over, you (Buhari) said: ‘I will be far away in Daura, but if you need me, contact me. I won’t interfere with whatever you’re doing. I won’t interfere. I will not breathe down your throat,’” Tinubu said.
The book “Working with Buhari” was written by Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Mr. Buhari, and reviewed by Shola Oshunkeye, a journalist. The second book on Buhari’s legacy was written by over 100 contributors and edited by Udo Yakubu.
Tinubu said the authors of the books have done justice to the “essential Muhammadu Buhari, especially in his tenure and legacy as the 15th president of Nigeria.”
He added that instead of interfering, Buhari has partnered with him to make democracy flourish in the country. “We have partnered to make democracy flourish in Nigeria. Nothing is known about him (Buhari) either to nominate or to meddle in the cabinet or to complain about problems. Thank you for being who you are,” said the president.
Buhari was president of Nigeria between May 2015 and May 2023, a period President Tinubu described as “very difficult for our national life.”
“President Buhari assumed office at a very difficult period in our national life, when the economy was spiraling into recession and Boko Haram had taken over large areas of our territory in the northeast. At one point, it seemed that even Abuja, the seat of government, would fall to Boko Haram with the bombing of the UN building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya and other locations within the Federal Capital Territory.
“We cannot easily forget how our armed forces fought against the Boko Haram terrorists under the leadership of President Buhari to reclaim our territory and push them to the margins of Lake Chad, where they no longer pose an existential threat to our sovereignty.
“I must say that the task of protecting every inch of our country is still unfinished. My government will wipe out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, Ansaru, banditry and kidnapping gangs. We will not rest until all agents of darkness are completely eradicated,” Tinubu stated.
The program was attended by former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon; the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajuddeen Abbas; former First Lady, Aisha Buhari; former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Several former governors and former ministers also attended.
President Tinubu continued to speak: “It will be said enthusiastically of President Buhari that in his eight turbulent years, marked by acute revenue shortfalls, the Covid-19 pandemic that crippled the global economy for almost two years, his administration embarked on about the most ambitious infrastructure renewal for the country.”
“President Buhari gave us the second bridge over Niger. He renovated the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. He gave us the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe railway lines. He completed the Abuja-Kaduna railway line and the Lekki seaport. He built entirely new airports, among many other landmark economic projects. The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, which he started, will be completed by my administration, by the Grace of God.”
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Concluding his remarks, President Tinubu pledged that “whatever unresolved challenges President Buhari has faced in his eight years, our administration will endeavor to resolve them. “As I said during the campaigns, I inherited all of his assets and liabilities.”
“Our administration will continue to work, from where President Buhari left off, to improve our country, create a vibrant economy and secure the environment to bring more prosperity to our people,” Tinubu said.
In his remarks, Gowon said: “Former President Buhari has done his best to contribute to the development of the country. But there is no doubt that Nigeria is not exempt from criticism, and strident criticism is made on any issue, and that gives the impression that nothing has been achieved.”