Immediate-past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has denied insinuations that a certain cabal hijacked his government while he was in power between 2015 and 2023.
In his first elaborate and exclusive interview with the NTA since leaving office on May 29, 2023, former President Buhari defended his tenure in office, asserting that he did his best during his eight years as Nigeria’s leader.
He, however, acknowledged the challenges of governing a nation with a populace that, in his words, believes they should be in charge.
“God gave me the opportunity to serve my country, but I did my best. But whether my best was good enough, I leave for people to judge,” Buhari remarked, addressing the complexities of managing a nation where citizens closely scrutinise leadership.
Describing Nigerians as “extremely difficult” people, he pointed out their strong awareness of their rights, making it necessary for leaders to prove their competence continuously.
Former President Buhari also defended his integrity, stating that, “When I was Head of State, I didn’t build anything or acquire a company, which is why I live in peace today.”
Addressing concerns about the existence of a cabal within his administration, Buhari dismissed notion, attributing it to the critics’ imagination. He challenged those who questioned him, asking what they had done individually to combat corruption in their own rights.
He said: “I didn’t deliberately allow anybody to misuse public resources for himself or me, but if people knew but didn’t do anything about it, they are part of the problem. Nobody is above the law and there in no evidence of someone doing something like that.”
Reflecting on the major controversy surrounding the Nigerian Air saga, Buhari affirmed that he allowed people to execute their official tasks unhindered.
“My major shortcoming is allowing people to do their job, I never interfered,” he admitted, adding that he wouldn’t change anything if given the chance again in Nigeria’s current system.
Explaining his endorsement of the controversial Naira redesign policy, Buhari emphasised that it was aimed at protecting his integrity and demonstrating to Nigerians that there were no shortcuts to success in leadership. He acknowledged Nigeria’s underdeveloped status and the challenges of materialism, stating that, “I still feel that the only way I could deprive these people was just to make sure that my integrity became unquestionable… I think as a developing country, we still have a long way to go.”
The former president expressed his satisfaction in what he has achieved in his eight-year tenure and urged Nigerians to reflect on the positive things engendered by his administration and remember him as a person of conscience and integrity.
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