Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for his attempts at reworking the country since he took over Nigeria on May 29, maintaining that Nigeria remains a complex nation to govern.
Speaking when he received the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi and members of the management team in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari said that there’s not much anybody can do to help Nigeria at this point.
On assumption of office, Tinubu had removed the controversial petrol subsidy and thereafter attempted to ‘float’ the Naira against other currencies, policies that though popular at the time, have caused economic hardship.
“I thank you very much for coming. I very much appreciate it. I thought Tinubu has done very well,” Buhari said, before adding “Nigeria is so complex. Really, there isn’t much anybody can do.”
As a result of the economic pains, there have been pockets of protests in the country even as organised labour recently took to the streets across the country to ask for better living conditions.
Buhari led Nigeria for two terms of eight years after he had been military president in the 80s. He declined to withdraw Nigeria’s expensive fuel subsidy regime, citing the need to protect the poor and vulnerable.
In the eight years he was president, Buhari also ‘defended’ the naira, refusing to allow market forces determine the value, policies that have now been overturned by the current administration.
It’s not the first time Buhari is describing Nigeria as difficult. In November last year, he equally described Nigerians as a ‘difficult people to govern.’
Buhari further stated that during his eight-year tenure as president, he did his best to move the country forward across various sectors, but maintained that Nigerians are different because “they think they should be” in charge “not you”.
“My personal experience leading Nigeria is that it’s extremely difficult; people know their rights; they think they should be there and not you. It’s virtually every step, and you’ve to struggle day and night to see that you’re competent. I don’t think I took Nigerians for granted.
“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,” he had told the state-owned television.
Also speaking during the latest visit, the Customs boss, Adeniyi, commended the former president for “transforming the NCS” during his time in office, assuring that the service would continue to ensure that the country’s borders are secured in order to boost Nigeria’s economy.
