President Muhammadu Buhari has apologized to Nigerians who were hurt by his administration, with only 38 days left for him in office.
Buhari said he was as a lucky and fulfilled politician, having served as military governor of Borno State in 1976, Minister of Petroleum Resources in the same year and one-time Head of State (1983 – 1985).
He thanked citizens for “tolerating” his eight-year rule, which began when he was sworn in as President on May 29, 2015.
“Those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me,” Buhari said when he hosted a controlled number of guests at the ninth and final Sallah homage held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I think this is a very good coincidence for me to say goodbye to you and thank you for tolerating me for more than seven and a half years.
“I honestly consider myself very lucky; I was made a governor, minister of petroleum, head of state in uniform, then after three attempts, God, through technology and PVC, I became president. I think God has given me an incredible opportunity to serve as your president. And I thank God for that.
“So, please, whoever feels I have done wrong to them, we are all humans. There is no doubt I hurt some people and I wish you will pardon me. And those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me,” said the president.
Speaking of his retirement plans, the president echoed his desire to wash his hands off party politics for a while and stay away from the FCT.
He said, “I am counting the days. Democracy is a good thing; otherwise, how can somebody from the other side be a president for two terms? From my home town to the Niger Republic is eight kilometers.
“I assure you, I have deliberately arranged to be as far away from you as possible, not because I don’t appreciate the love you’ve shown to me, but because I think I’ve gotten what I have asked and I would rather quietly retire to my hometown (Daura, Katsina).”