Tinubu pledges to emulate Buhari’s non-interference stance

President Bola Tinubu says he will emulate former President Buhari’s stance of non-interference in political litigation to favour candidates, opponents, or incumbents.

The president also expressed his administration’s determination to continue to work from where his predecessor stopped.

He made the remarks in Abuja at a public presentation of two books on the stewardship of the former President, titled Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy, 2015–2023, and Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity 2015–2023.

He noted that former President Buhari served Nigeria with dedication and uncommon zeal, despite assuming office at a very difficult time in the nation’s life.

The President observed that the economy was going into recession at that time, adding that Boko Haram had taken over so many local governments in some parts of the country, including the attack on the United Nations building in Abuja.

“It’s easy to forget the role of armed forces. But if the book is carefully read and taught in terms of substance in our various schools, the job of securing every inch of our nation may not be completed, but you did a wonderful job. And we will not rest, I promise you, until every agent of darkness is completely eliminated. Is a sovereign country.

“Well, I’ve emulated you; one of those things is non-interference, being a Democrat, and responsibility for nation-building. Staying on course, I am determined to do just that. Because I campaigned for this job. And you told me in our discussions that it’s not easy. But I went out there dancing for it, making promises, doing Kokomo, doing all the collabos, and making music, so I cannot complain. We will be there, he stressed.

President Tinubu lauded his predecessor for his infrastructure drive, which had helped in connecting the people to make the country better, create a vibrant economy, and secure the environment to bring more prosperity.

“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 acute shortage of revenue and 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 the 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, he added.

President Tinubu said the authors of the books had done justice to the former President, pledging that his administration will stamp out the remaining vestiges of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.

While appreciating the efforts of the authors and editors of the books, former President Buhari noted that without revision, human beings would often have short memories and that unless events were recorded in cold print, some people would attempt to either distort or even obliterate recent history.

He said his administration did nothing under the veil of secrecy.

“We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.

“We kept records of our stewardship, knowing that we would always be required to account for the trust entrusted to us. This event today is part of accounting for our two terms in office, and I thank those who have laboured day and night to ensure that this history is recorded for now and the future,” the former president stated.

Former President Buhari said in their journey to the desired destination, there would be hard decisions taken, and the people would bear some costs, whose understanding would be sought by letting them know that the decisions were not aimed at deliberately inflicting pain and anguish on anyone.

He said he remained committed to the APC and the leadership of President Tinubu.