President Muhammadu Buhari has thanked Nigerians for what he described as the honour to serve for two terms from 2015 to 2023, asking for pardon from those he might have offended along the way.
The President said this at an event to mark his final Sallah outing as President, before handing over.
With less than 37 days left in office, the President recounted his leadership role in the country for more than forty years, serving variously as a military officer, military governor, minister, and Head of State, and returning as a democratically elected President in 2015.
President Buhari told a delegation of visiting residents of the Federal Capital Territory led by the Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, that his journey was not all smooth as he was incarcerated for three years, after the coup that ousted him from power in August 1984, and contested elections three times in 2003, 2007 and 2011, without success.
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He said the flaunting of ethnic and religious cards in elections was “rubbish” as the presiding justices at the Supreme Court that quashed his cases were Muslims, from the North -Kaduna, Niger and Jigawa states.
President Buhari highlighted the strengths of democracy as a system of government, particularly in providing the opportunity to participate and foster a sense of belonging among citizens.
“I have been counting the years. Democracy is good, otherwise, how can someone come from one end of the country to rule for eight years? My home town, Daura, is about eight kilometres from the Niger Republic.
“When the Minister of Interior wanted to shut down petrol stations ten kilometres from the border, there was a fuel station close to my house, and I pleaded if he could allow it to keep operating,” he added.
The President said he has decided to retire to Daura, which is a bit of a distance from Abuja in order to get some real rest after years of work.
“I can’t wait to go home to Daura. If they make any noise to disturb me in Daura, I will leave for the Niger Republic. I deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible. I got what I wanted and will quietly retire to my home town.
“In spite of technology, it will not be easy to get to Daura,” he said.
President Buhari said he accepted all the complaints and criticism levelled against him in good faith knowing it was part of the leadership he prayed and asked for from God.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, SGF, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Senator Philip Aduda, and CAN Chairman in FCT, Rev. Timothy Amakum were part of the Sallah homage.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
