In his first interview since leaving office about six months ago, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari asserted that he exerted his utmost effort during his eight-year tenure but expressed uncertainty about attaining the anticipated outcomes.
Buhari, speaking to the state-owned Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), defended his endorsement of the contentious naira redesign policy, emphasizing the need to safeguard his integrity and underscore that success has no shortcuts.
During the interview, Buhari acknowledged the challenges of governing Nigerians, characterizing them as a demanding populace with a propensity to resist doing what is right.
Responding to critics about the integrity of individuals around him during his presidency, he dismissed it as “their problem” and questioned the actions of those who vehemently criticized him for corruption.
When queried about the possibility of a cabal hijacking his government, Buhari acknowledged it might have occurred but insisted that no one who flouted rules was allowed to “walk away.”
He defended his leadership style, stating he let people perform their duties when assigned tasks and expressed that, given the chance, he would not act differently under Nigeria’s current system.
Despite veering off point at times, Buhari emphasized his commitment to accountability during his administration.
He highlighted ongoing challenges, including being “harassed” by people visiting his home daily, attributing it to the closure of the border with a neighboring country.
However, he expressed contentment with the freedom to wake up anytime, stating he doesn’t miss anything after leaving the government.
Buhari concluded by stating, “God gave me the opportunity to serve my country, but I did my best. But whether my best was good enough, I leave for people to judge.
” While admitting he hadn’t quite achieved what he set out to accomplish after attempting the presidency four times, he pointed to the degradation of Boko Haram in Borno state and the North-east as positive outcomes during his tenure.
Additionally, Buhari discussed his focus on local matters, his avoidance of acquiring wealth during his presidency, and his resistance to traps set by certain individuals.
He attributed his 2015 electoral success to divine intervention and explained his motivation for introducing the naira policy as a means to emphasize the absence of shortcuts to successful leadership.
In addressing criticisms of the naira policy, Buhari emphasized Nigeria’s underdeveloped status, expressing concern about materialism and a ruthless pursuit of wealth.
He underscored the policy’s motivation to convey that successful leadership requires integrity and that Nigeria, as a developing country, still has a long way to go.
Finally, Buhari admitted shortcomings in giving people a free hand to do their work during the Ethiopian/Nigerian Air debacle at the end of his administration.
