Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Reflects on Controversial Events During His Administration
In a recent interview, Muhammadu Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s President until approximately six months ago, discussed some of the controversial events that took place under his leadership.
Buhari specifically addressed the contentious naira redesign policy, which he supported during the final stages of his tenure. He explained that his endorsement was motivated by a desire to protect his integrity and to convey to the Nigerian people that true success requires hard work and commitment, rather than seeking quick solutions.
During an appearance on a state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) program on Monday night, President Buhari expressed his belief that Nigerians are a challenging group to govern.
He stated that although most citizens are aware of what is right, they often choose not to act accordingly because they believe they know better than those in power.
When questioned about the integrity of his aides during his eight years in office, Buhari dismissed the criticism by asking what those who criticized him had done to combat corruption at their own levels.
I Could Have Ran Out Of Nigeria
During the interview, the former president emphasized that his administration made efforts to be accountable.
He also mentioned that he continues to be bothered by people who visit his home daily, and if the border with a neighboring country hadn’t closed, he would have left Nigeria by now.
However, he expressed contentment in being able to wake up whenever he wants and stated that he doesn’t miss anything from his time in government.
“God allowed me to serve my country, but I did my best. But whether my best was good enough, I leave for people to judge, “ he stressed.
Buhari was asked if he accomplished his goals after attempting to become president four times. He recognized the security issues in Borno State and the northeast region when he assumed office. He mentioned that Boko Haram had been significantly weakened by the time he finished his term.
“Nigerians are extremely difficult. People know their rights. They think they should be there, not you. So, they monitor virtually your every step. And you have to struggle day and night to ensure that you are competent enough,“ he said.
The ex-president also mentioned that he was too focused on domestic affairs to pay attention to international matters during his presidency. He stated that his main priority was ensuring the safety and security of the country. Buhari added that he deliberately refrained from engaging in a competition with Nigeria’s affluent class by accumulating properties and luxury items while he was in power. He explained that this choice allowed him to live a peaceful life after leaving office.
Trap
In a recent statement, Buhari claimed that certain individuals had tried to set a trap for him by offering him various opportunities. However, he managed to avoid falling into this trap because he was aware that once they discovered his vulnerability, they would exploit it to benefit themselves at the expense of the country.
Buhari also mentioned that these individuals were seeking to gain power over him. He explained that in 2015, with the help of technology, he was able to win the election. He believed that God had witnessed the immense struggles he faced after each previous loss in his presidential campaigns.
“Instead of people expressing sympathy, people laughed at me because I didn’t have money, because I couldn’t buy influence in any form, either from influential people or others. And I said ‘God dey’. And he sent the Permanent Voter Card (PVC). Meaning you now have only one vote,“ he stated.
Naira Redesign Policy
Commenting further on the controversial naira policy, Buhari said: “Whether Nigerians believe it or not, we are an underdeveloped country. And in that sort of situation, there’s materialism and sometimes ruthlessly they didn’t care how they made the money.
“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 motivation (for introducing the policy) was to try and make Nigerians believe that there is no shortcut to successful leadership.”
In addition, he clarified that he was not surprised when governors from his own party took him to court to challenge the policy.
