Former President Muhammadu Buhari has asserted that during his eight-year tenure as the leader of Nigeria, he gave his best efforts. In his first interview since leaving office on May 29, 2023, Buhari shared his perspective with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).
Acknowledging the challenges of governing Nigerians, Buhari described them as a demanding group who often believe they should be in charge. He emphasized the constant scrutiny he faced, stating, “Nigerians are extremely difficult. People know their rights. They think they should be there, not you. So, they monitor virtually every step. And you have to struggle day and night to ensure that you are competent enough.”
When questioned about the integrity of individuals around him during his administration, Buhari attributed it to their problem and questioned the critics about their own efforts in combating corruption at their levels.
Buhari highlighted that he allowed people to perform their assigned tasks during his presidency and expressed that, given the chance again, he would not approach things differently within Nigeria’s current system.
Regarding the controversial naira redesign policy at the end of his term, Buhari explained that he endorsed it to uphold his integrity and demonstrate that there are no shortcuts to success. He emphasized Nigeria’s status as an underdeveloped country and the need to address materialism and ruthless pursuit of wealth. Buhari expressed his belief that the country has a long way to go in its development and outlined the motivation behind the policy—to reinforce the idea that successful leadership requires dedication and cannot be achieved through shortcuts.
