•••SAYS TINUBU, SHETTIMA CAN’T GO WRONG WITH THEIR EXPERIENCES
The outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari m, has said that he would fly to Kaduna on his way to his Daura country home from Eagle Square after the handover ceremony on Monday.
Buhari disclosed this at a Book launch: “A Promise kept, A Compendium Of Significant Achievements Of Muhammadu Buhari Administration 2015-2023,” held at the council chambers of the presidential Villa.
“I thank you very much for this major surprise, I think now when I go back I will have time to read some books not just about myself but about other issues.
“I assure you, I have been counting the days, I am looking forward to Monday very desperately. I will use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagles Square, I will fly to Kaduna and eventually go to Daura. Thank you very much.” He said.
He, however used the occasion to tackle the opposition parties for creating a false impression to the international community
that 2023 elections were choatic.
He made the observation while highlighting the success of the elections at both the national and state levels.
Buhari said he had never been one to revel in surprises despite his 20 years in the military, and commended the MBO Dynamic Support Group led by Usman Ibrahim, for managing to catch him completely off guard.
“Especially today I need to sign few papers because I know on Monday, from the swearing in venue I will fly directly to Kaduna and then I will go to the other side of Nigeria.
“Thank you for surprising me with your generosity and kindness
“I think by my profession I spent most of my time that is the military for 20 years, there wasn’t this kind of surprise. If you allow yourself to be taken by surprise you will be virtually overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting this honestly
“Thank you for surprising me with your generosity and kindness.” Ha said.
According to the outgoing President, the APC had achieved it’s set objective as a political party, observing that the last elections were transparent as people voted their choice candidates.
He said citizens were not influenced by money judging by the outcome of the exercise where serving governors and lawmakers lost their bids for re-election.
The President said what his administration and the party wanted to achieve was to develop a firm political culture.
“I think I was expecting too much. When I was in Doha, meeting with some heads of states, I was getting calls from Europe, America and Nigeria, congratulating us on the success of elections.
“The opposition has created the impression outside the country that we are going into a mess because we have incompetent leadership of the party.
“They were overwhelmed that the election came and went and both at the center and at the states, fantastic.
“How can 10 sitting governors of states lose their constituencies, this is unprecedented.
“So I congratulate you, the national working committee and others here present, that we have really proved that democracy is worth defending.
“Nigerians have understood it now, otherwise how can they vote against their sitting governors stopping them from going to the senate to rest?
“So they were really overwhelmed and I congratulate us on our political development. Please congratulate your constituencies. It means that even though you have excess money, they will collect and put in their pockets but will elect the person they trust from any constituency – House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate – until it comes to the president itself.
“Because, it was so transparent, everything was done there in front of everybody. And committee by committee from various constituencies lined up and picked the candidate they want.
“So really, we have virtually politically arrived. I congratulate our party.” He added.
Buhari reiterated that both President-elect Bola Tinubu and Vice-President elect, Kashim Shettima have the required experience to develop Nigeria, having been two terms governors and senators.
He said: “Today, we prayed together with Asiwaju and I congratulated him and I said I am eager to go to other side of Nigeria. I wish him the best of luck.
“I said his Vice President is experienced, a two time governor in his state and then the Senate. And this is how we got their chairman of our party, two time governor in his state and also he has been in the senate.
“So they are people really from the bottom of the system to the top. When you get experienced people to be in charge, taking important decision, they will always reflect on their experiences and they can hardly go wrong. So I congratulate you and our party.” He further explained.
