PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated he is leaving Nigeria better than he met it in 2015.
Buhari lauded his government for success in revamping the economy, tackling corruption and insecurity, improving the electoral process and launching a pathway for infrastructural development for the nation.
In a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, May 28, the President harped on the need for citizens to unite and move the nation forward.
He said his government fought corruption and recovered funds stashed abroad and mansions built with looted commonwealth.
The President sympathised with Nigerians who lost relations either to death or abduction, and wished the incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, well in building on his “success.”
He congratulated Tinubu, whom he described as the best among the February 25 presidential election candidates.
However, The ICIR reports that despite Buhari’s claims of success in the economy and security, many incidents, including large-scale killings and multinational and local industries which shut down under his government because of ill-managed economy and policy summersaults, invalidate his claims.
For instance, The ICIR reported in 2022 in a two-part report, which is here and here, how giant industries disappeared in the South-East.
Insecurity, which made the companies collapse, is also rife in other regions of the nation.
The ICIR also published a report on key insecurity issues in the nation under the President on May 21.
The report captures several killings, displacements, abductions and kidnappings and other preventable heinous crimes committed by non-state actors under the President.
In his Sunday speech, the President said on insecurity, “Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.”
He also said on the economy, “In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering, for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the overall good of the country.
“Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes, notably among which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, and completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.”
Buhari urged every party or candidate dissatisfied with the 2023 general elections to seek redress in court. He also advised them to accept the court’s decision, urging every citizen to consolidate the nation’s democracy for a better country.
The President leaves office tomorrow, May 2023 and will hand over to Tinubu in Abuja.
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ [email protected]