Some things I saw on assuming office were unbelievable —Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described as unbelievable
some things he saw upon assuming office as President.

The President, who made the declaration while receiving a
delegation of the Governance Support Group at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, also said he was still wondering how Nigeria managed
to survive the abuses it was subjected to by some of the previous
administrations.

“Some of the things I saw here were unbelievable. I still
shudder and wonder how a country can survive under such abuses. It
is only by an act of God that we survived,” he said.

The President also said his administration had ushered in a new
era of accountability and responsibility by auditing and correcting
the many wrongs of the past that crippled the economy and created
an exclusive class, promising to consolidate on the reforms he had
initiated for change in the country.

He said the longsuffering, commitment and sacrifices of his
supporters over the years will be remembered by posterity, urging
them to remain steadfast in pursuing the overall good of the
nation.

Receiving the Governance Support Group at the Presidential
Villa, President Buhari said he remained “eternally grateful’’ for
all the personal and collective sacrifices that culminated in his
winning the 2015 presidential election, assuring them that their
efforts would never be forgotten.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media
and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President said: “I can never
forget your sacrifices and I am grateful for all. You never gave up
when things were bleak and we needed to survive. I can’t express my
gratitude enough.

“In spite of the environment you found yourself, you kept
believing and pushing. Some of you were really exposed to risks. My
consolation is that you voluntarily threw in your lot with me.

“Some of you exposed yourself so much, and I knew it. I urge you
to still stick to your principled way of doing things and our
country will be the better for it,’’ he said.

President Buhari told his supporters that he was not oblivious
of the personal risks and investments that brought in the
government, citing the appointment of Mr. Boss Mustapha as
Secretary to the Government of the Federation as most deserved
because of his steadfastness.

“I want you to maintain your steadfastness. We have gone through
the worst of the times. We lost elections three times and I learnt
a lot along the way,’’ he said.

According to him, after losing in three elections and pursuing
cases up to the Supreme Court, he learnt that ethnicity and
religion had no place in Nigerian politics, but personal interests
prevailed.

The Chairman of the Governance Support Group, Hon. Chukwuemeka
Nwajiuba, commended the President for the bold initiatives in
restoring security, tackling corruption, and setting the economy on
a more predictable path.

Nwajiuba said the group would continue to support and advise the
President on areas that needed more attention, which include
engagement with party members and supporters, empowerment of
Nigerians and the fight against kidnapping.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described as unbelievable
some things he saw upon assuming office as President.

The President, who made the declaration while receiving a
delegation of the Governance Support Group at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja, also said he was still wondering how Nigeria managed
to survive the abuses it was subjected to by some of the previous
administrations.

“Some of the things I saw here were unbelievable. I still
shudder and wonder how a country can survive under such abuses. It
is only by an act of God that we survived,” he said.

The President also said his administration had ushered in a new
era of accountability and responsibility by auditing and correcting
the many wrongs of the past that crippled the economy and created
an exclusive class, promising to consolidate on the reforms he had
initiated for change in the country.

He said the longsuffering, commitment and sacrifices of his
supporters over the years will be remembered by posterity, urging
them to remain steadfast in pursuing the overall good of the
nation.

Receiving the Governance Support Group at the Presidential
Villa, President Buhari said he remained “eternally grateful’’ for
all the personal and collective sacrifices that culminated in his
winning the 2015 presidential election, assuring them that their
efforts would never be forgotten.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media
and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President said: “I can never
forget your sacrifices and I am grateful for all. You never gave up
when things were bleak and we needed to survive. I can’t express my
gratitude enough.

“In spite of the environment you found yourself, you kept
believing and pushing. Some of you were really exposed to risks. My
consolation is that you voluntarily threw in your lot with me.

“Some of you exposed yourself so much, and I knew it. I urge you
to still stick to your principled way of doing things and our
country will be the better for it,’’ he said.

President Buhari told his supporters that he was not oblivious
of the personal risks and investments that brought in the
government, citing the appointment of Mr. Boss Mustapha as
Secretary to the Government of the Federation as most deserved
because of his steadfastness.

“I want you to maintain your steadfastness. We have gone through
the worst of the times. We lost elections three times and I learnt
a lot along the way,’’ he said.

According to him, after losing in three elections and pursuing
cases up to the Supreme Court, he learnt that ethnicity and
religion had no place in Nigerian politics, but personal interests
prevailed.

The Chairman of the Governance Support Group, Hon. Chukwuemeka
Nwajiuba, commended the President for the bold initiatives in
restoring security, tackling corruption, and setting the economy on
a more predictable path.

Nwajiuba said the group would continue to support and advise the
President on areas that needed more attention, which include
engagement with party members and supporters, empowerment of
Nigerians and the fight against kidnapping.