The President, Muhammadu Buhari, Saturday, said Nigerians would be more grateful to God if they knew what other countries in Africa are passing through.
In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president remarked his Sallah homage to the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Usman in Katsina.
Buhari was also quoted to have said the emergence of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was “purely democratic”.
According to the president, there was no need for him to interfere in the APC’s process of choosing a presidential candidate knowing the competence of all the aspirants in the race before the primaries.
The statement is titled ‘How Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu emerged our flag bearer in APC, president Buhari.’
Buhari, however, expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support for the APC in 2015 and 2019.
He noted that he had a rich experience in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections, travelling to all the 774 local councils in the country, and in 2019 visiting 36 states.
His words: “They say he who wants to serve should be ready for the responsibility of leadership. Three times I wanted this position and three times I ended up at the Supreme Court. For that reason, in terms of experience, I have gathered a lot. I visited 774 local councils in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.
“I feel privileged that Nigerians elected me in 2015. Since then, we have been doing our best to tackle the challenges, with God helping us. We are not alone. If only we knew what other countries in Africa are passing through, we will be grateful to God, and protect our country. Other African countries are passing through a lot.”
Continuing, the president hinted that as leaders, they are doing their best, and would keep doing our best to improve the situation.
“I am praying that the Almighty God will give us more strength and wisdom to protect our people, and fulfill our promises of ensuring wellbeing,” he interceded.
The president also boasted that the emergence of Tinubu and Shettima as flag bearers of the APC was “purely democratic,” and a “reflection of the will of party members”.
He noted that there was no need for him to interfere in the process that brought Tinubu to the fore as the APC standard bearer because all presidential aspirants were equally qualified and the party would make the right choice.