President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed disappointment that some candidates were defeated in the recent general elections, stressing that it was up to the people to decide who won and who lost.
Buhari, who did not name the candidates, added that there was no money for politicians to disperse throughout the country during the elections due to the currency swap.
The president of the ruling All Progressives Congress met with outgoing US Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.
He went on to explain that he aspired to be a “big landowner” in Daura, Katsina State, where he could work on his farms and care for his more than 300 livestock.
Buhari, who expressed delight with Nigerians’ enthusiasm for democracy in the recently concluded presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and Houses of Assembly elections, stated that Nigeria’s democracy had truly evolved.
“People are realising their power. Given the chance of a free and fair vote, nobody can tell them what to do. I am unhappy that some candidates lost in the election. But I am inspired by the fact that voters were able to make their own decision, to decide who won and who lost.”
“With the currency change, there was no money to spread around but even then, I told voters to take the money and vote according to their consciences,” the President said.
President Buhari remarked that he was satisfied with his role in the electoral process, which was free of meddling or influence.
Buhari, on the other hand, praised the departed Ambassador for the progress made in Nigeria-US relations during her three-and-a-half years here.
He described a variety of problems that Nigeria faces as it works to unite its varied populations and achieve national progress, and he expressed admiration for the way the United States is able to stick together as a nation.
The President also expressed his optimism that Nigeria will continue to make progress in constructing a nation out of its diverse and competitive communities, saying that he enjoyed working with the Ambassador and wished she had more time to serve in the country.
In her remarks, the American Ambassador expressed satisfaction with the progress made in Nigeria-US relations over the last three and a half years, citing the recent establishment of a five-year visa regime between the two countries; active collaboration in security and the supply of military hardware, including warplanes and the soon-to-be fighter helicopters; and cooperation in the health sector to fight HIV and COVID-19 response, with assurances that the US will cooperate.
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