Former President Muhammadu Buhari has urged political leaders to prioritize citizens’ welfare above personal interests, emphasizing accountability and service.
Speaking at his Kaduna residence during a visit by APC governors, Buhari stated, “I left office with the same physical assets I had before my presidency.”
He advised the governors to adopt a people-first approach, saying, “Leadership presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Balancing the two will significantly advance national progress.”
Buhari praised the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) for its efforts and thanked President Bola Tinubu’s administration for renovating his Kaduna home.
“While the building looks the same outside, there’s been a lot of improvement inside,” he noted.
He also expressed gratitude for the visit, saying he had worked with some of the governors and was meeting others for the first time.
PGF Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the visit was to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr and honour Buhari. “We convey our heartfelt gratitude and enduring respect for your immense contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and to strengthening our party,” he said in a statement by Buhari’s former media aide, Garba Shehu.
Uzodimma added: “Many of us recall with pride the principled role you played in the founding of the APC. That legacy continues to shape our party’s identity.”
He also highlighted Buhari’s historic electoral victory: “You remain the only opposition candidate to have defeated an incumbent. You did not only win power, you governed with calm resolve and handed over, with honour, to another APC president.”
He praised Buhari’s achievements in security, anti-corruption, and social welfare, noting: “You taught us to produce what we eat and eat what we produce.” On Buhari’s recent endorsement of Tinubu, he said: “It was a powerful symbol of continuity and humility.”
