Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has said that to ensure the country’s democracy remains resilient and elected representatives remain accountable to the people, he is leaving behind electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible.
Buhari who made this known in his farewell broadcast speech to the nation on Sunday, said he is also leaving electoral process where elections are fair, transparent, the influence of money reduced to the barest minimum and Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.
The Nigerian President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, as the pace set for their swearing into office on Monday, May 29th, 2023, drawing a curtain on the eight-year administration of the President Buhari, who served two terms, 2015-2023.
According to the President, “This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.
“We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among Nations.
“Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court”, he said.
Buhari, irrespective of the outcome of various cases, urged all parties involved to accept decision of the courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria, saluted doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in the judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court.
The President congratulated the President-elect, Tinubu on realisation of his 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’ve 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.
“You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well”, Buhari said.
The President said further that the last eight years have been an exciting experience in his desire and commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.
He said, “Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your overwhelming support for me and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives of the common Nigerian.
“This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving away from the path of correctness.
“To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.
“We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.
“The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns.
“You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.
“Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.
“Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investments is guaranteed.
“The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.
“In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of 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.
“Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.
“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, the President called on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that Nigeria’s values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern their actions.
“Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under unlawful captivity our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed.
On the international scene, he said Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies. “Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers.
“The leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from their roles as a check to the executive arm”.
Buhari also use this opportunity to express his appreciation to a good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to help him navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.
According to him, “I cannot and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for Nigeria to thrive in peace.
“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 in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfils its destiny to be a great nation”, he said.