TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration has laid a “firm foundation” for a prosperous Nigeria.

Buhari spoke on Monday at the opening ceremony for the induction of governors-elect in Abuja.

The president, who was represented by Ibrahim Gambari, his chief of staff, said his government has tackled the nation’s challenges, including infrastructure, agriculture and strengthening the armed forces.

“The road has been bumpy due to a challenging fiscal climate, but I am proud to state as we leave office in about two weeks, that we have built a firm foundation for a prosperous Nigeria,” Buhari said.

“Despite the difficult fiscal conditions, we remained committed to our promises. These key areas were strategically targeted.

“Our focus on infrastructure was to improve access to markets, improved linkages and reduce overall supply chain costs. This singular commitment to infrastructure development for roads, rails, airports, ports and affordable housing was designed to create better means of livelihood for our people and facilitate access to jobs.

“I am happy that we are succeeding in investing the nation’s wealth in every state of the federation and a clear path for sustainable development has been set.”

Buhari asked governors-elect to ensure they deliver on their campaign promises to the people in their states.

He said the outcome of the 2023 elections has shown that if an elected public official doesn’t perform, such a person will be voted out.

“One interesting development that we all saw from the last election is that the electorates are maturing, and people are increasingly finding their voices,” he said.

“Any public officer who fails to either meet up with the expectations of the people or deliver on his campaign promises will be voted out in the next election. That is what democracy is about. Deliver or get shown the door out.

“As returning or incoming state executives, you also must be cognizant of the comparative advantages inherent in each of your states, and how you can form partnerships with each other, by leveraging your various strengths while recognizing that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solutions.

“I am happy to note that democracy is alive, vibrant and thriving in Nigeria. With the elections now over, it is time for all of us to deliver the promises we made during the campaigns.”