Former President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he did not take Nigerians for granted while he was at the helm of affairs between 2015 and 2023.
Buhari made this revelation while speaking with Thelca Wilkue of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in an exclusive interview monitored by LEADERSHIP.
The former president thanked God for giving him the opportunity to serve Nigerians, insisting that he did his best for the country.
When asked if he had achieved the agenda of his administration within his eight-year tenure of office, he said: “Not quite.”
He added that he wanted Nigerians to reflect on the former condition of the country, especially regarding security in the northeast part of the country.
“I hope Nigerians have been following it and saw the difference,” he stated.
He recalled that the economy, security and fighting corruption were the main areas of his priority when he was President.
“I don’t think I ever took Nigerians for granted. I focused on securing the country. Many local governments used to be in the hands of Boko Haram.
“No amount of talking can convince people if you don’t secure the environment, you’re wasting your time,” he stated.
When asked about his efforts towards advancing Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with the rest of the world, Buhari said he was “more concerned with local problems”.
The former president admitted that leading Nigeria was extremely difficult, explaining that he had “to struggle day and night to be competent enough.
“People know their right. They think they should be there and not you.”