For the first time after he left office on May 29 last year, former President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday openly apologised to Nigerians for the pains some of his administration’s reforms caused them.

Buhari pointed out that the “pains and anguish” were not intentional but were outcomes of his then administration’s push to reposition the country.

He said: “In our journey to the desired destination, there will be hard decisions taken, and the people would bear some costs….

“There was no intention to deliberately inflict pain and anguish on anyone. This is why I apologised to such people at the end of our time in office.”

The former President spoke at the unveiling of two books documenting his tenure as Aso Rock’s chief tenant in Abuja.

The books are “Working with Buhari (2015 – 2023)” written by his former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and “Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy, 2015 – 2023 (Vols 1-5) edited by Dr. Udu Yakubu.

President Bola Tinubu who was one of the personalities at the event extolled Buhari as virtue and promised again to continue where the former President stopped, especially in the area of security. Tinubu also revealed that Buhari has never interfered in the running of his administration.

In his speech, the former President, who restated his support for Tinubu, expressed happiness over the publication of the books which according to him, succinctly capture his eight years in government.

He added that in all his administration did, “We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.”

The Daura, Katsina State-born politician and former Head of State, stressed the need for record keeping.

His words: “The two publications are worthy to temporarily bring

me out of resting in my native Daura back to the city.

“These books once again exemplify the sanctity of records and the role they play in documenting facts and figures, achievements and milestones, either in our personal lives or in the life of a nation.

“I told Adesina when he visited me in Daura with an advance copy of his book that he has done the nation a favour in writing it. He has provided a one-stop shop for our stewardship of the country.

“The same has also been done by Dr. Udu Yakubu and his colleagues. Without documentation, revisionism wins. Human beings often have short memories and unless events are recorded in print, some people would come and attempt to either distort or even obliterate recent history.

“But the fact in our favour is that nothing was done under the veil of secrecy. We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.

“We kept records of our stewardship, knowing that we would always be required to account for the trust entrusted to us. This event is part of accounting for our two terms in office, and I thank those who have laboured day and night, to ensure that this history is recorded for now and the future.

“Government is a continuum. It is like a relay race. You run your course and hand over the baton to the next person. This we have done and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has my support and confidence, in the quest for us to have a country of our dreams, where there is emancipation for our teeming population.

“With the cumulative achievements of government after government, I believe we will get there in no distant time. In our journey to the desired destination, there will be hard decisions taken, and the people will bear some costs.

“We can only seek their understanding, and state that there was no intention to deliberately inflict pain and anguish on anyone. This is why I apologised to such people at the end of our time in office.

“Sacrifices are still being made now and will continue to be part of our national life and development. Governments will continually seek the understanding and support of the people they lead, for our ultimate good and goal.

“Let revisionists not rejoice that they have the ultimate say in the bid to distort history. Facts and records will ultimately prove them wrong. When some people engage in deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts that pertain to our tenure in office, I take solace in the fact that records are there and will remain inviolable.

“I remain committed to our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have abiding faith in the strength, unity and future of Nigeria.”

Adesina’s book was reviewed by one-time CNN Journalist of the Year, Shola Oshunkeye. The one on the legacy of Buhari was jointly reviewed by the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae and a Professor of Political Science, Kabiru Mayo.

The launch was chaired by former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and co-chaired by Gen. IBM Haruna.

Former Vice- President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abass; former Senate President Ahmad Lawan, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governors Ademola Adeleke(Osun) and Dikko Radda(Katsina), were among the dignitaries at the event.

Inspector of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, former ministers Raji Fashola(Works and Housing), Chris Ngige(Labour), Lai Mohammed(Information), Hadi Sirika(Aviation); former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake were also in attendance. (The Nation)

•L-R: President Tinubu (Left), former President, Buhari (middle) and former First Lady, Aishat Buhari (right)

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