Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari in an Independence speech on Thursday, said the precarious state of the country was made possible by previous governments from 1999 to 2015.
Buhari said this in a national broadcast for Nigeria’s 60th anniversary.
He said his government was left with little resources to work with, but have been able to perform better than previous governments, who he claimed put Nigeria in this abyss of a place.
“No government in the past did what we are doing with such scarce resources,” Buhari said. “We have managed to keep things going in spite of the disproportionate spending on security, ” he said.
“Those in the previous governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided over the near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attempt to criticise our efforts.”
Olusegun Obasanjo a former military general was Nigerian president from 1999 to 2007; late Umar Musa Ya’ardua, who many think is the best Nigerian president yet, led the country from 2007 to 2010 and former president Goodluck Jonathan ruled from 2010 to 2015.
These former presidents, except late Ya’ardua, have criticised Buhari’s government at different times – especially Obasanjo, a former ally of President Buhari.
Obasanjo is fond of criticising Buhari. In 2018, he accused the President of nepotism and incompetence in open letters and statements.
In the last general elections, the former president accused Buhari of his desperation to retain power likening him to the Nigerian tyrant, General Sani Abacha.
However, Buhari quipped that “in the circumstances, a responsible government must face realities and take tough decisions.
“To achieve the great country we desire, we need to solidify our strength, increase our commitment and encourage ourselves to do that which is right and proper even when no one is watching.”
He urged Nigerians to embrace togetherness to “continue our journey beyond the sixty years on the clear understanding that as a nation we are greater together than being smaller units of nationalities.”
