President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria’s governing party; the All Progressives Congress (APC) has developed a firm political culture for the country.
The President made the declaration in Abuja on Friday, at the public presentation of a book titled “A Promise Kept,” by the APC Muhammadu Buhari Organization Support Dynamic Group.
The book is a compendium of significant achievements of the Muhammadu Buhari administration from 2015-2023.
Addressing the gathering, the Nigerian leader said he got a pleasant surprise.
“I think by my profession I spent most of my time in the military for 20 years, there wasn’t this surprise. If you allow yourself to be taken by surprise you will be virtually overwhelmed.
“I wasn’t expecting this honestly. Especially today when I need to sign a few papers because I know on Monday, from the swearing in venue I will fly directly to Kaduna and then I will go to the other side of Nigeria.
“Thank you for surprising me with your generosity and kindness. I think the achievement we wanted is to ensure that we develope a firm political culture. I think I was expecting too much. When I was in Doha, meeting some heads of states, I was getting calls from Europe, America and Nigeria, congratulating us on the success of elections.
“The opposition has created the impression outside the country that we are going into a mess because we have incompetent leadership of the party. They were overwhelmed that the election came and went and both at the center and at the states, fantastic.” The President stated.
The President cited an instance whereby 10 sitting Governors could not achieve their ambitions at the last election, buttressing the fact that Nigerians are now wiser with their ballots.
“How can 10 sitting Governors of States lose their constituencies, this has been unprecedented. So I congratulate you, the national working committee and others here, that we have really proved that democracy is worth defending.
“Nigerians have understood it now, otherwise how can they vote against their sitting Governors, stopping them from going to the Senate to rest.
“So they were really overwhelmed and I congratulate our political development. Please congratulate your constituencies, it means that even though you have excess money, they will collect and put in their pockets but they will elect the person they trust from any constituency, either House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate until it comes to that of the President itself.
“Because, it was so transparent, everything was done there in front of everybody. And committee by committee from various constituencies lined up and picked the candidate they wanted. So really, we have virtually politically arrived. I congratulate our party,” he added.
President Buhari once again informed Nigerians that he was pleased with the choice they made during the 2023 Presidential election, adding that his successor will do well.
“Today, we prayed together with Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) and I congratulated him and I said I am eager to go to the other side of Nigeria. I wish him the best of luck.
“I said the Vice President-elect is experienced, a two term Governor in his State and then the Senate. And this is how we got the Chairman of our party, two term Governor in his State and also he has been in the Senate.
“So they are people who are really from the bottom of the system to the top. When you get experienced people to be in charge, taking important decision, they will always reflect on their experiences and they can hardly go wrong. So I congratulate you and our party,” he said.
President Buhari also said for the umpteenth time that he was eager to see out his tenure on Monday May 29.
According to him, “I thank you very much for this major surprise, I think now when I go back I will have time to read some books not just about myself but about other issues.
“I assure you, I have been counting the days, I am looking forward to Monday very desperately. I will use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagles Square, I will fly to Kaduna and eventually go to Daura. Thank you very much.” The President stated.
Present at the event were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima and National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu among others.
N.O
