Abuja (EPICSTORIAN) – The former president of Nigeria, Muhammadu buhari, today made an exhaustive address about his past government and the encoded legacy of his administration.
Speaking during a book launch, and the Nigerian legacy (2015-2023) public presentation ceremony, at Congress hall, Transcript Hilton Hotel, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, January 16, 2024, Bihari said his administration served the foundation of transparency and accountability.
The statement, which was made before other top government officials from the opposition parties, seemed to have been not well applauded for as he addressed the guest.
“It gives me great pleasure to be in abuja, seat of the federal government, in my first official outing since handing over power on May 29, 2023,” Bihari said.
“I am delighted to be in our federal capital territory, a place that served as home to me between 2015 and 2023, when fate thrust it upon me to be the president of our beloved country.
Speaking to everyone at the occasion, Buhari acknowledged the incumbent president of the federation, his excellence Bola Tinubu and said their “relationship” all this time have been “correct and cordial”.
“Let me thank the president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for finding time to attend this launch. Our relationship has always been correct and cordial,” he said.
“Let me also take this opportunity to thank all those who took trouble, sometimes undertaking arduous journeys to visit me in daura. I thank you all.
“The two publications launched today; working with buhari: reflections of a special adviser on media and publicity, 2015 – 2023, written by femi adesina, who served as my media adviser for eight years, and a volume of five books, muhammadu buhari: the nigerian legacy (2015 – 2023), edited by dr. udu yakubu, are worthy to temporarily bring me out of resting in my native daura, back in the city.”
Buhari highlighted that the book launched in Abuja gave an example of the trueness of “records” and their significance in preserving “facts, figures, achievements and milestones” that had been set by his administration.
“These books presented today once again exemplify the sanctity of records, and the role they play in documenting facts and figures, achievements and milestones, either in our personal lives, or in the life of a nation.
“I told Adesina when he visited me in Daura with an advance copy of his book, he has done the nation a favour in writing it, as he has provided a one-stop shop on our stewardship to the country. the same has also been done by dr. udu yakubu and his colleagues.
“Without documentation, revisionism wins. Human beings often have short memories, and unless events are recorded in cold print, some people would come and attempt to either distort, or even obliterate recent history.”
The former president said the future Nigerians will honour the legacy left by his past government as he believed that his service in office was ”transparent and accountable“ and the object of the ceremony served to account for their two terms in office.
“But the fact in our favour is that nothing was done under the veil of secrecy. We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.
“We kept records of our stewardship, knowing that we would always be required to account for the trust entrusted to us. This event today is part of accounting for our two terms in office, and I thank those who have laboured day and night, to ensure that this history is recorded for now and the future.
Buhari expressed his support and confidence in president Tinubu, stating that there is a destination they have both shared to reach in the achievements of their administrative goals as presidents.
“Government is a continuum. It is like a relay race. you run your course, and hand over the baton to the next person. This we have done,and the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has my support and confidence, in the quest for us to have a country of our dreams, where there is emancipation for our teeming population.
“With the cumulative achievements of government after government, I believe we will get there in no distant time.”
He apologised to those had experienced the not-so-desired parts of his policies, saying that it was not the will of the government but he did all he thought was necessary.
“In our journey to the desired destination, there will be hard decisions taken, and the people will bear some costs. we can only seek their understanding, and state that there was no intention to deliberately inflict pain and anguish on anyone.
“This is why I apologised to such people at the end of our time in office. Sacrifices are still being made now, and will continue to be part of our national life and development. Governments will continually seek the understanding and support of the people they lead, for our ultimate good and goal.“
Buhari said he was not happy hearing people say that his administration had left no good legacy. He also trashed the opinions of many Nigerians who say his economic policies were flawed, impacting more hardship on the lives of citizens.
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“Let revisionists not rejoice that they have the ultimate say in the bid to distort history. facts and records will ultimately prove them wrong. When some people engage in deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts that pertain to our tenure in office, I take solace in the fact that records are there, and will remain inviolable.”
Then, after his address, Buhari looked in the direction of general yakubu Gowon, gcfr, who was the chairman of the ceremony and saluted him.
“My special thanks goes to the chairman of the occasion, general yakubu Gowon, gcfr, for always being there for us. the general, sir, i am most appreciative,” he added.
