President Muhammadu Buhari says the non-interference in the recently-concluded elections and their free and fair nature are proofs that Nigerians are capable of deciding who leads them without anyone telling them.
President Buhari, who expressed satisfaction with remarkable passion towards democracy exhibited by Nigerians through the choices they made in the elections, said Nigeria’s democracy had truly attain maturity.
President Buhari made the observation in Abuja at a farewell meeting with the outgoing United States Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard.
The President commended the outgoing Ambassador for the enormous achievements recorded in Nigeria-US relations in the three-and-half years she had been in Nigeria.
He chronicled a number of challenges faced by Nigeria in the strides towards uniting her diverse communities and achieve national development, and expressed his appreciation of the way the United States had been able to hold together as a nation.
The President expressed the hope that Nigeria would continue to make progress in building a nation out of the different and competitive communities, adding that he enjoyed working with the Ambassador, and wished that she had more time to serve in Nigeria.
In an answer to a question posed by Ambassador Leonard, President Buhari said he planned to be a “big landlord” back at home, working in his farms and tending his more than 300 animals, reiterating that he is eager to go.
The outgoing Ambassador had said she was happy with the progress made in Nigeria-US relations in the last three and half years.
She specifically cited the recent institution of a five-year visa regime between the two countries, active collaboration in security, the supply of military hardware, including war planes, and the soon-to-come fighter helicopters, as well as co-operation in the health sector to fight HIV and Covid response, giving assurances that US will continue to assist in the strengthening of Nigeria’s health sector.
Ambassador Leonard expressed her gratitude and that of the US government in the continuing role of the President in ensuring regional security and strengthening democracy, citing his strong response against the recent surge of coups-d’état in West Africa as worthy of commendation.
She called on President Buhari to among other things, concretize the removal of fuel subsidies.
Bello Wakili
