President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said Nigeria is still a lucky country despite the challenges that could have torn the nation apart.
He stated this in Abuja while receiving the report of the National Security Summit held on May 26, 2021, by the House of Representatives. The report was submitted by a team of House members, led by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
In his remarks, the President said leaders to respect the people, from the lowest to the highest, “so that it becomes a duty to them (the people) to pay back to the leadership.”
Respect for the people, according to him, should come in allowing them “to choose who they like as their leaders, irrespective of political party or religion.”
Reminiscing on his visits to the 36 States during the campaign for the 2019 elections, he said:
“The number of people that turned out to see me, some waiting for 10 hours in the sun, was more than anyone could buy, or force,” Buhari said.
“They just wanted to see who this Buhari was. People wonder why Nigerians accept me, despite not being rich. I wonder, too. I felt I just have to serve Nigeria and Nigerians to the best of my ability.”
Commending the 9th National Assembly for its cooperation with the Executive, he said he tried very hard to get the 8th Assembly to do same for the sake of the country, “and I didn’t succeed much. But time has proved me right.”
