In a rare, reflective moment, former President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he departed from Nigeria’s highest office with no more physical assets than he had before assuming power—reaffirming his enduring image of modesty and self-discipline.
Speaking from his Kaduna residence during a courtesy visit by governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Buhari emphasized that leaders must place the welfare of citizens above personal interests if they truly wish to leave a legacy.
“I left the presidency the same way I entered it—without enriching myself. Leadership is not about amassing wealth but about serving people with sincerity and dedication,” Buhari asserted.
The former president urged current and future leaders to adopt a citizen-first approach, stressing that public service is both a responsibility and a privilege. “Leadership is a delicate balance of opportunity and burden,” he said, “but striking that balance is what drives national progress.”
Buhari expressed confidence in the progress being made under the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), commending their continued commitment to good governance and national development.
He also extended gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for renovating his Kaduna home. “Though the exterior of the house looks unchanged, the interior has been significantly improved, and I’m grateful for that gesture,” he said with appreciation.
Welcoming the visiting governors, Buhari acknowledged that while he had worked closely with some of them during his administration, others were new faces to him. “It’s heartwarming to see the unity and continuity within the APC family,” he noted.
Earlier, Chairman of the PGF and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, praised Buhari’s legacy, describing him as a pillar of Nigeria’s democracy and a founding father of the APC. He stated that the visit was to celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr with the elder statesman and to express the Forum’s enduring respect and gratitude.
“We remember with pride the principled role you played in birthing the APC. Your affirmation that APC remains your party of choice is a beacon of hope for all of us,” Uzodimma said in a statement issued by Buhari’s media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu.
He added: “Your Excellency, you are a true pan-Nigerian. You remain the only opposition candidate in our history to defeat an incumbent president. Not only did you win power, but you also handed it over with dignity and honour to another APC government.”
Uzodimma went on to extol Buhari’s achievements in security, anti-corruption, and infrastructure development, particularly citing the expansion of the rail system, road networks, and social investment programs such as the Conditional Cash Transfer, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, and the Anchor Borrowers Scheme.
“You taught Nigerians to eat what we produce and produce what we eat. You restored dignity to governance and laid a foundation for the renewed progressive movement we see today under President Bola Tinubu,” Uzodimma stated.
The PGF chairman concluded with a passionate appeal to Buhari: “Sir, your values, humility, and patriotism continue to inspire us. We ask that you remain our guiding light as we deepen progressive politics and build a more prosperous Nigeria.”
PIONEER NEWS 