Former President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he tendered an apology to Nigerians before leaving office in May 2023.
CorrectNG recalls that he asked for forgiveness from those hurt by his administration’s policies. He issued the apology on Friday, April 21, 2023 when he hosted guests at the ninth and final Sallah homage held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Revisiting the matter on January 16, 2024, Buhari said he had no intention to deliberately inflict pain and anguish on anyone, but that a decision had to be made. The former Nigerian leader added that at the end of the day, he had to apologise.
Meanwhile, in his apology message, the ex president had recalled his regime as military governor of Borno State in 1976, Minister of Petroleum Resources in the same year and one-time Head of State (1983 – 1985), saying he sees himself as a lucky and fulfilled politician.
He had said; “Those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me. 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”.
