I’m Eager To Leave Office For My Farm-Buhari

Posted by Rotimi Fadeyi Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Tuesday, March 21st, 2023

—Says Nigerians Decided Who Won, Lost Elections

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he was eager to leave office and go back to his farm.

Buhari spoke at a farewell meeting with the outgoing United States Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard at the Presidential Villa.

The President said he planned to be a “big landlord” back at home, working his farms and tending his more than 300 animals. “I am eager to go”

While speaking on the just concluded elections in the country, Buhari said given the chance of a free and fair election as well as non-interference as was witnessed on February 25th and March 18th elections, Nigerians have proved to be capable of deciding who leads them without anyone telling them what to do.

Buhari, who expressed satisfaction with remarkable passion towards democracy exhibited by Nigerians through the choices they made in the Presidential, National Assembly and the subsequent Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, said Nigeria’s democracy has truly matured.

“People are realising their power. Given the chance of a free and fair vote, nobody can tell them what to do. I am unhappy that some candidates lost in the election. But I am inspired by the fact that voters were able to make their own decision, to decide who won and who lost.

“With the currency change, there was no money to spread around but even then, I told voters to take the money and vote according to their consciences”, Buhari said

According to him, he was completely satisfied with his own role in the election process staying above it, without meddlesomeness or any form of interference.

The President commended the outgoing Ambassador for the enormous achievements recorded in Nigeria-US relations in the three-and-half years she had been here.

He chronicled a number of challenges faced by Nigeria as the country strives to unite diverse communities and achieve national development while expressing his appreciation of the way the United States was able to hold together as a nation.

Buhari expressed the hope that Nigeria would continue to make progress in building a nation out of different and competitive communities.

The President added that he enjoyed working with the Ambassador and wished that she had more time to serve in Nigeria

In her remarks, the American Ambassador said she was happy with the progress made in Nigeria-US relations in three-and –half years, specifically citing the recent institution of a five-year visa regime between the two countries; active collaboration in security and the supply of military hardware including war planes and the soon-to-come fighter helicopters.

She also noted cooperation in the health sector to fight HIV and Covid response, giving assurances that US would continue to assist in the strengthening of Nigeria’s health sector.

The Ambassador expressed her gratitude and that of the US government in the continuing role of the President in ensuring regional security and strengthening of democracy as a system of government, citing his strong response against the recent surge of coups-d’état in West Africa as worthy of commendation.

She expressed hope that even as he is preparing to leave, there are still a few more things the President could do, among which she mentioned, the urgent need to remove fuel subsidy.