Former President Muhammadu Buhari has called on governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prioritise a citizen-centric approach in governance, emphasising that leadership is both a challenge and an opportunity that must be balanced to advance national development.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) to his residence in Kaduna, for the occasion of the Eid-Fitr celebrations, Buhari reaffirmed his confidence in the current trajectory of the APC-led states and urged leaders to stay focused on the welfare of the Nigerian people.
A statement by his spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, the former President said, “leadership is a challenge, but it also offers opportunities. Balancing both is key to our nation’s progress.
“Leaders must put the people first. Personal enrichment should never come before national service. I left office with the same assets I had before I became president. That is how leadership should be”, he said.
Buhari also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the renovation of his Kaduna home.
While noting that the exterior remained familiar, he described the interior improvements as a thoughtful gesture that he deeply values.
The former President welcomed the visiting governors warmly, acknowledging both familiar and new faces among them, and expressed gratitude for their continued support and dedication to the ideals of the APC.
Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, led the delegation and praised Buhari for his “immense contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and the strengthening of the APC.”
He described the visit as a gesture of gratitude and respect for Buhari’s enduring legacy.
Your Excellency, your principled role in founding the APC remains a guiding light for our party. Your recent affirmation that the APC is still your party of choice reassures all members and reinforces your position as a pillar of our movement”, Uzodimma said.
Governor Uzodimma commended Buhari’s record in office, citing achievements in security, economic reforms, anti-corruption efforts, and infrastructure development.
“You did not only win power as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent, you handed it over peacefully to another APC president. That calm resolve and statesmanship continue to inspire us”, he added.
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