By Samuel Ogude
The outgoing President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari said, in the course of revamping Nigeria’s economy for the past eight years of his administration, some difficult choices were made, most of which, yielded the desired results while some led to temporary pain and suffering for which , he sincerely apologized but all were taken for the over-all good of the country.
Buhari stated this in his farewell speech to the nation. According to him, 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 secured nation.
He said, Nigeria’s economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that it remains afloat during cases of global economic downturns saying, in 2020 and 2022, when the supply chain was disrupted and there was economic down turn occasioned by Covid 19 pandemic, which also affected Nigeria, the country’s response to it remained the best global practice.
He said:” 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”
Speaking further, Buhari said under his administration, there was increase in the ability of poor Nigerians in rural areas to earn a living with the provision of food for millions in the villages as especially women, had the opportunity to earn a living.
He said:” 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”.
Buhari said, he was mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, hence his administration 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 adding that, he fought tooth and nail to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secured environment adding, it was this drive that has been able to reduce the incidence of banditry, terrorism, and other crimes in the country.
He said:” 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. 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”.
According to him, his administration was able to rid the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished Nigerian’s efforts adding, he pursued this commitment to the latter in spite of the expected push back . He however expressed happiness that considerable progress has been made by repatriating the huge sum of money back to the country just as he said, the properties illegally acquired were taken back to the country. He said, to improve service delivery, his administration began the implementation of a number of reforms aimed at producing an efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning to show.
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 as the country’s democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers as the leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve his appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract their roles as a check to the executive arm.
On the stability of Nigeria’s democratic process, he said, the day marked another peaceful transition of power from one elected government to another in Nigerians’ steady march to improve and sustain democracy. According to him, this year, Nigerians witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that Nigeria’s democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election. He therefore urged Nigerians to improve and sustain gains made so far in the electoral process for the country to take its rightful in the comity nations.
He said:”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. Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.
Buhari therefore saluted the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in Nigeria’s judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court saying, in the course of the campaigns, they had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better.
According to him, as a President, he urged all to bring to bear the strength of Nigerian’s individualism, the power of unity, the convictions of Nigerians beliefs that make country work better and together with one spirit and one purpose. He therefore congratulated the President Elect, – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the realization of his dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.
He said, he(Tinubu) has indeed worked for the day and God has crowned his efforts adding ,he has no doubt that, his 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 him under God’s guidance and lead the country to levels higher that he (Buhari) was leaving it just as he said,he was confident that he was leaving office better in 2023 than in 2015.
He said, as he leaves office, he has felt a deep of gratitude to God and appreciations for Nigerians as he had a sense of fulfillment and therefore wished the country a blissful transition.
He said:” I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well-endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerians and a modest sense of fulfillment. I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015”.