Williams Anuku Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Christmas day said he was optimistic that majority of Nigerians do understand his style of leadership and sympathize with him.
He said he came to that conclusion, during the 2019 general elections, while going round the country campaigning for re-election as President.
Buhari however described the out-going year 2019 as quite successful, going by the ethnic and political intrigues that played out throughout the year.
He made the assertion on Wednesday, when some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) led by the Minister, Mohammed Bello, paid him the traditional Christmas Day homage.
“2019 is a very successful year for the nation, I thank Nigerians for believing in me and supporting my administration to take Nigeria to the Next Level.
‘‘We thank God. It has been a very successful year, relative to the composition of this country, both politically and ethnically,’’ the President stated.
The President told the delegation, comprising religious, traditional and political leaders as well top civil servants and members of the press: ‘‘You are our eyes and ears, we have to listen to you and I hope you are encouraging your constituencies that this leadership means well and is concerned about them.’’
The President reiterated that his administration would continue to do the utmost best to effectively utilize national resources to rebuild the country, recounting that the extreme infrastructure deficit inherited by his administration was worsened by the volatility in the oil market and the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.
He, however, expressed confidence that in the last four years the federal government had recorded sustainable progress in mobilizing resources to rebuild infrastructure across the country.
‘‘This administration sincerely believes that if you get infrastructure right, most Nigerians will mind their own businesses. They may not even care who is in government.
‘‘But when you deny them infrastructural facilities then there is nothing they can do.
‘‘But I can assure you that I thank Nigerians very much from the bottom of my heart.
‘‘When I travelled to all the 36 states before the elections, what I personally observed and the number of Nigerians that turned up in every State to see and listen to me, are more than what anybody can pay or force.
‘‘What I saw made me believe that the majority of Nigerians understand and sympathize with me.’’
The President used the occasion to reassure Nigerians that he was conscious of his duty as president, saying: ‘‘I swore to hold this office in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and God willing, I will follow the system diligently to the end of my term and I hope history will be kind to me and Nigerians.’’
