By Halimah Olamide
President Bola Tinubu has reminded Nigerians that his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari assumed the presidency at a most challenging time in the history of Nigeria.
He said Buhari served as the President at a time that insurgents had almost taken over critical parts of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory.
Saying the Buhari administration was responsible for pushing back the terrorists and reclaiming control of national territories, Tinubu said his administration will continue to fight back to ensure that all vestiges of terrorism are stamped out in Nigeria.
He spoke on Tuesday at the presentation of some books focusing on the 8 years of the Buhari administration.
“President Buhari assumed office at a very difficult period of our national life when the economy was spiralling into recession and Boko Haram had taken over swaths of our territory in North East.
“At a point it appeared even Abuja, the seat of government would fall into the hands of Boko Haram with the bombing of the UN Building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya and other locations within the Federal Capital Territory.
“We cannot easily forget how our armed forces battled the Boko Haram terrorists under the leadership of President Buhari to reclaim our territory and push them to the fringes of Lake Chad where they no longer pose existential threat to our sovereignty,” Tinubu told the gathering.
Admitting that securing every inch of Nigeria is yet to be finished, Tinubu said his government will stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, Ansaru, banditry and kidnapping gangs.
We won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out.
Highlighting the achievements of the Buhari administration, Tinubu said Buhari had what he called “eight turbulent years, marked by acute shortage of revenue, Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the global economy for almost two years.”
However he said his administration embarked on the most ambitious infrastructural renewal for the country.
He said, “President Buhari gave us the second Niger Bridge. He revamped Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He gave us the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe Rail lines. He completed Abuja-Kaduna rail line and Lekki Seaport.
“He built brand new airports, among many other landmark economic projects. The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, which he started, will be completed by my administration, by the Grace of God.”
Tinubu promised that Whatever unresolved challenges faced by President Buhari in his eight years, his administration will endeavour to resolve them.
“As I said during the campaigns, I inherited all his assets and liabilities.
“Our administration will continue to work , from where President Buhari stopped, to make our country better, create a vibrant economy and secure the environment to bring more prosperity to our people.”