Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that he can’t wait to go back home after eight years of serving the country.
Buhari while speaking during the last Sallah homage by Muslim faithful to his residence at the presidential villa, Abuja said ” I can’t wait to go home
“I have deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible from you people. I have got what I have asked and will quietly retire to my home town in Daura,”
He added that he considered the Sallah celebration a good coincidence to say goodbye and to “thank you for tolerating me for eight years.”
He maintained he is lucky to have led Nigeria in various capacities as governor, minister, head of state and president.
He thanked the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for tolerating him in the last seven and half years.
The president who noted that he was already running a countdown to his exit acknowledged the benefits of democracy, just as he wondered how it would have been possible for someone like him who hails from the outskirt of the country to become president.
Buhari stated: “I am counting the days. Democracy is a good thing otherwise how can somebody from the other side be a president for two terms? My home town to Niger Republic is 8 kilometers.
“I honestly consider myself very lucky, I was made a governor, minister of petroleum, head of state in uniform, then after three attempts, God through technology and PVC, I became president. I tried 2007, 2011 and 2015 and ended up at Supreme Court three times.”
The president also took a swipe at those saying they cannot get justice at the court, recalling that even though all the Supreme Court justices in all the election cases he took to court were all Muslims from the North like him, he still lost.
He praised the deployment of technology and the use of permanent voters card (PVC) in the country’s electoral process, stating it was for this reason that he was able to make it in 2015 to Aso Rock.
Buhari continued: “I think this is a very good coincidence for me to say goodbye to you and to thank you for tolerating me for more than seven and half years now.
“I assure you, I have deliberately arranged to be as far away from you as possible not because I don’t appreciate the love you’ve shown to me, but because I think I’ve gotten what I have asked and I would rather quietly retire to my hometown.
“Having been a Governor, Minister and the President twice, I think God has given me an incredible opportunity to serve as your president. And I thank God for that.
“So, please whoever feels I have done wrong to, we are all humans. There is no doubt I hurt some people and I wish you will pardon me. And those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me.”
Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello, the FCT witnessed tremendous transformation under the leadership of president Buhari
He thanked the president for appointing him as minister, saying it is one position he would cherish forever.
Some dignitries present were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Ahmed Lawan; secretary to government of the federation, Boss Mustapha; chief of staff to the president, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; service chiefs, cabinet members, presidential aides, traditional rulers and members of the business community, among others
