Buhari Delivers Valedictory Speech, Calls For Understanding

Outgoing Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari, has called on Nigerians to be more focused on what will move the country forward rather than dwell on what's not going on well. 

He made the call Sunday while delivering his valedictory speech. 

President Buhari, who said his administration took certain well intended decisions that created difficulties for the people, noted however, that the decisions were meant for the long term wellbeing of the people and a better tomorrow for the country in general. 

While apologizing for the difficulties experienced by his fellow men in the course of executing the said decisions, the President expressed the hope that the coming administration will build on the foundation he laid to reposition the country. 

"In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country."

The President highlighted some of his administration's achievements which includes a credible electoral process which, according to him, guarantees the people's desire to have credible elections from which they can elect leaders of their choice. 

He also called on all those who felt aggrieved over the outcome of the last presidential election to follow due legal processes, urging them to respect the outcome of such processes irrespective of whether ot not it meets their expectations. 

"Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court.

"Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria," he counselled. 

The President reminded Nigerians of the need to employ their collective individual strength to make the country work better, urging them not to allow perceived differences to deter them from the journey towards realizing a better Nigeria. 

"As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose." 

According to him, Nigerians may differ and disagree on many grounds, including electoral matters, what remains paramount is the fact that Nigerians will never disagree on the need to make the country great. 

"In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better."