President Muhammadu Buhari says he was looking forward to handing over to a worthy successor when his tenure expires in 2023.
Buhari who stated this at a dinner in honour of the 2022 Committee of Business, Political, Media and Civil Society Leaders at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, pledged his commitment to hand over a strong repositioned agriculture-led, diversified home-grown economy, stable democracy and revamped armed and security forces to the next administration.
He said: “I am gradually entering my final year in office. It is a period I intend to spend not only on consolidating on the achievements of the past seven years but also to leave a legacy for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria.
“I take this initiative to mean that you all intend to collaborate with this administration in that direction. For those among you who are politicians, you must look beyond gaining power to how you can leverage public positions in the process of societal change.
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“I am delighted that members of the Nigerian elite have woken up to the fact that the task of changing this society is a task for all of us, whether we are in the private or public sector. Knowing that, we have enormous challenges as a nation, but they are not beyond our capacity to overcome if we embrace a new approach.
“We cannot retreat to our ethnic cocoons, nor can we continue to seek solace in our past. We must champion the idea of a Nigeria where every citizen would be proud to call their own. That is the charge before you.”
“As we all know, I have been very critical of the Nigerian elites, essentially because some of us have not always demonstrated that we can rise above personal gain, political partisanship as well as ethnic and religious differences when the situation demands that we all speak and or act as one in the interest of our country.
“There are also many among our elites for whom profit remains the only motivation for any and every enterprise. But now, I feel heartened that a more collaborative social enterprise model for resolving our common challenges is being forged.
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“I must commend this initiative and its conveners. This is the kind of spirit I have always advocated because it is what we need at this time as we seek to build our society for peace, security and prosperity through dialogue while narrowing the gap between rich and poor.”
He lauded the group for rising above all ethnic and religious divides for the common good, describing the feat as ‘‘fantastic’’.
The president told the meeting that despite the enormous problems inherited when he assumed office almost seven years ago, he could look back with satisfaction that this administration has kept faith with the people.
According to him, the administration has done well even amid dwindling resources for reasons that are well beyond our control.
Buhari used the occasion to wish politicians, at the dinner, interested in elective positions in the 2023 polls the best, advising that ”there is nothing better than experience in leadership.”
Responding to concerns raised by Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on the resurgence of military takeovers in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso in Aug. 2020, Sept. 2021 and Jan. 2022, respectively, the president said he strongly believed that Nigeria has passed through that stage for good.
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