16th January, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Former President, Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said under his administration, nothing was done under the veil of secrecy.
He said his government was as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.
The former president spoke in Abuja at the book launch and the Nigerian Legacy public presentation of the achievement of his administration in the last eight years.
According to Buhari, without documentation, revisionism wins, saying human beings often have short memories, and that unless events were recorded in cold print, some people would come and attempt to either distort, or even obliterate recent history.
“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,” he said.
Buhari stated that the two publications launched today; “Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, 2015 – 2023,” written by Femi Adesina, and a volume of five books, “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy (2015 – 2023),” edited by Dr. Udu Yakubu, were worthy to temporarily bring him out of resting in his native Daura, back to the city.
“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,” he added.
Buhari said government is a continuum, saying 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.”
The former president said with the cumulative achievements of government after government, he believed that Nigeria would get there in no distant time.
“In our journey to the desired destination, there will be hard decisions taken, and the people would 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 apologized 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.
“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,” he stated.
Speaking at the event, President Bola Tinubu, said he was extremely happy to receive Buhari in Abuja, describing him as a great man, a patriot, a dedicated public servant who offered his best in the service of the country since he joined the army in 1962 at age 18.
“President Buhari served our country with dedication and uncommon zeal. First as a military officer who offered unblemished service, manning important commands and political positions, and crowning it as military Head of State on 1st January 1984. Second, as a politician who ran four times for the highest office until he was elected President in 2015.
“The authors of the books we are here to present to the public have done justice to the essential Muhammadu Buhari, especially on his tenure and legacy as the 15th President of Nigeria.
“Femi Adesina, who served him as the Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, authored one of the books titled: ‘Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity ( 2015-2023).”
“I particularly thank Femi for using his memoirs to let us into the challenging eight years of the administration and how his principal steered the ship of State,” he added.
Tinubu said Buhari assumed office at a very difficult period when the economy was spiralling into recession and Boko Haram had taken over swaths of the territory in North East.
He added that at a point, it appeared even Abuja, the seat of government would fall into the hands of Boko Haram with the bombing of the UN Building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya and other locations within the Federal Capital Territory.
“We cannot easily forget how our armed forces battled the Boko Haram terrorists under the leadership of President Buhari to reclaim our territory and push them to the fringes of Lake Chad where they no longer pose existential threat to our sovereignty.
“I must say the job of securing every inch of our country is yet to be finished. My government will stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, Ansaru, banditry and kidnapping gangs. We won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out,” he said.
The second book that will be presented today is a collection of five volumes book on the Buhari years. The book, “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy (2015-2023)” gives an authoritative account of the stewardship of President Buhari.
The president said history would also be kind to Buhari as the leader who promoted local production of goods to grow the economy.
“It will be said glowingly of President Buhari that in his eight turbulent years, marked by acute shortage of revenue, Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the global economy for almost two years, his administration embarked on the most ambitious infrastructural renewal for the country.
“President Buhari gave us the second Niger Bridge. He revamped Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He gave us the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe Rail lines. He completed Abuja-Kaduna rail line and Lekki Seaport. He built brand new airports, among many other landmark economic projects. The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, which he started, will be completed by my administration, by the Grace of God,” he eulogised him.
Tinubu stated that whatever unresolved challenges faced by Buhari in his eight years, his administration would endeavour to resolve them.
“As I said during the campaigns, I inherited all his assets and liabilities. Our administration will continue to work , from where President Buhari stopped, to make our country better, create a vibrant economy and secure the environment to bring more prosperity to our people,” he added.