Buhari says he can’t wait to return to Daura, begs Nigerians hurt by his government for forgiveness

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday celebrated his last Sallah at the State House, Abuja, saying he can’t wait to go home after eight years of governing the coutry.

Speaking at the Ninth and final Sallah homage paid to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President described himself as being lucky, to have led Nigeria in various capacity – governor, Minister, Head of State and President.

President Buhari who seemed to have done a soul-searching sought forgiveness from Nigerians whose lives have been affected negatively by policies introduced as his administration winds down.

He said he considered the Sallah celebration as a good coincidence to say goodbye and to “thank you for tolerating me for eight years.”

According to him: “I can’t wait to go home…I deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible from you people. I have got what I have asked and will quietly retire to my home town in Daura.”

“I am counting the days. Democracy is a good thing otherwise how can somebody from the other side be a president for two terms? My home town to Niger Republic is eight kilometers.

“I honestly consider myself very lucky, I was made a governor, minister of petroleum, head of state in uniform, then after three attempts, God through technology and PVC, I became president. I tried 2007, 2011 and 2015 and ended up at Supreme Court three times.”

“I think this is a very good coincidence for me to say goodbye to you and to thank you for tolerating me for more than seven and half years now. I assure you, I have deliberately arranged to be as far away from you as possible not because I don’t appreciate the love you’ve shown to me, but because I think I’ve gotten what I have asked and I would rather quietly retire to my hometown.

“Having been a Governor, Minister and the President twice, I think God has given me an incredible opportunity to serve as your president. And I thank God for that. So, please whoever feels I have done wrong to, we are all humans. There is no doubt I hurt some people and I wish you will pardon me. And those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me.”

President Buhari chastised those who said he cannot get justice at the court, recalling that all Supreme Court justices in all the election cases he took to court were all from the north and Muslims and yet he lost.

He said through technology and the permanent voters card (PVC), he was able to make it in 2015 to Aso Rock.

Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, who led other top government officials on Sallah homage to the President, noted that in few weeks the President will conclude a very successful tenure.

According to him, under the Buhari administration, the FCT witnessed tremendous transformation infrastructure wise.

He thanked the President for appointing him as Minister, saying it’s one position he will cherish for life.

He described the FCT Senator Philip Aduda as a bridge builder despite being in the opposition party, PDP.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of the a giant Sallah greetings card to the president.

The Sallah homage was attended by vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Mohammed Bello, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the president’s Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, service chiefs, cabinet members, presidential aides, traditional rulers, the business community, among others.