President Buhari has knocked Peter Obi and Atiku for false 2023 election narrative.
NewsOnline reports that President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday accused the opposition of misleading the outside world about the last general elections.
He said that contrary to the false narratives of the opposition, the elections were largely free and fair such that many state governors were defeated.
Buhari spoke on a day he conducted incoming President Bola Tinubu round the Presidential Villa, Abuja ahead of Monday’s inauguration for which the Ministry of Interior declared a public holiday.
Speaking at the launch of a book: “A promise kept, a compendium of significant achievements of Muhammadu Buhari administration 2015-2023”, held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, the President said the international community was not swayed by the attempt to rubbish the February/March elections.
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His words: “When I was in Doha, meeting some heads of states, I was getting calls from Europe, America and Nigeria, congratulating us on the success of elections.
“The opposition has created the impression outside the country that we are going into a mess because we have incompetent leadership of the party. They were overwhelmed that the election came and went and both at the centre and at the states, fantastic.
“How can ten sitting governors of states lose their constituencies? This has been unprecedented. So I congratulate you the national working committee (of the APC) and others here, that we have really proved that democracy is worth defending.
“Nigerians have understood it now. Otherwise how can they vote against their sitting governors, stopping them from going to the senate to rest?
“Because it was so transparent, everything was done there in front of everybody. And committee by committee from various constituencies lined up and picked the candidate they wanted. So really, we have virtually politically arrived. I congratulate our party.
“Today, we prayed together with Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) and I congratulated him and I said I am eager to go to other side of Nigeria. I wish him the best of luck.
“I said his Vice President is experienced; a two time governor in his state and then the Senate. And this is how we got the chairman of our party, two time governor in his state and also he has been in the Senate.”
On his post-handover plan, Buhari said he would fly out of Abuja from the Eagle Square on Monday.
“I have been counting the days. I am looking forward to Monday very desperately. I will use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagles Square, I will fly to Kaduna and eventually go to Daura.
“On Monday, from the swearing in venue, I will fly directly to Kaduna and then I will go to the other side of Nigeria.”
The President commended the MBO Dynamic Support Group led by Usman Ibrahim, for managing to catch him completely off guard.
“I thank you very much for this major surprise. I think now when I go back I will have time to read some books, not just about myself, but about other issues.
Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, eulogised and reflected on the Buhari’s administration, which he said inherited a country that was in the doldrums.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, described the President as a politician, stepping aside but not tired, saying “you worked hard, tirelessly to build the nation and make it better for all of us”.
The co-launcher, Senator Godswill Akpabio, described Buhari as a humane personality, but clearly misunderstood because of his stern look.
He said under his watch, NDDC headquarters, which had been under construction for about two decades, was completed as well as 77 roads in the Niger Delta, adding “the people of the Niger Delta and the Southeast will not forget you because of the Second Niger Bridge”.
