By Chesa Chesa
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday heaped praises on his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, thanking him for not intruding or interfering in his administration.
The president also described Buhari, who served eight years in office, as a leader who served his country with dedication and uncommon zeal.
Tinubu spoke in Abuja during the unveiling of two books titled: “Working with Buhari (2015 – 2023)” and “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy – 2015 – 2023 (Vols 1-5).
He praised Buhari for refraining from meddling in the selection of his 48-member cabinet in August 2023.
He said: “After handing over, you (Buhari) said, ‘I will be far away in Daura but if you need me, contact me. I won’t intrude on whatever you are doing. I won’t interfere. I won’t breathe down on your throat.
“We’ve partnered to make democracy flourish in Nigeria, thank you.
“Except when I call him (on the phone) to say, ‘how’re you doing, are you going to the farm?’ you don’t hear from him (Buhari) either to nominate or intrude in the cabinet or complain about issues. Thank you for being who you are.”
The book “Working with Buhari” was written by a former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, Femi Adesina, and reviewed by Shola Oshunkeye, a former CNN Journalist of the Year.
The book “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy – 2015 – 2023 (Vols 1-5), was reviewed by the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, and a Professor of Political Science, Kabiru Mayo, and edited by Dr Udu Yakubu.
Tinubu who thanked the organisers of the book launch for providing him the opportunity and the ambience to reunite with his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, since he left office on May 29, 2023, said he was happy to receive Buhari again in Abuja.
He said: “When President Buhari was leaving office he said he would retire to Daura, far away from Abuja to enjoy his well-deserved retirement from public service. I remember he added that if his supporters and friends deny him enough rest in Daura, he would run to the Republic of Niger.
“Well, as you all know, he can no longer escape to Niger Republic because of the border closure.
“I am therefore extremely happy to receive him here in Abuja. We are all here today to honour a great man, a patriot, a dedicated public servant who offered his best in the service of our 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 January 1, 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.
“President Buhari assumed office at a very difficult period of our national life when the economy was spiralling into recession and Boko Haram had taken over swaths of our territory in North East.
“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 an 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.
“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.
“Beyond what the editor of these volumes has recorded as the achievements of President Buhari in his eight years as a democratically-elected President, history will also be kind to him as the leader who promoted local production of goods to grow our economy.
“It will be said glowingly of President Buhari that in his eight turbulent years, marked by an acute shortage of revenue, the 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 the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He gave us the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe Rail lines. He completed the 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.
“Whatever unresolved challenges faced by President Buhari in his eight years, our administration will 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.”
