Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment To Consolidate Buhari’s Reforms
…As Gowon, Mustapha others eulogises ex president at book launch
By Tom Okpe
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated his commitment to build on former President Muhammadu Buhari’s reforms, describing him as a man whose leadership stood on the pillars of integrity, accountability, prudence as well as patriotism.
The President made this remark during the launch of a book titled: ‘According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential spokesman’s experience,’ written by the Special Assistant to former President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Wednesday.
President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, stated that the reform oriented path, initiated by the former President would be consolidated and strengthened by the present administration.
He said: Buhari, is a man whose leadership stood on the pillars of integrity, accountability, prudence as well as patriotism.
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He said: “Nation-building is a relay. The efforts of one administration lay the foundation for the next. In this regard, I acknowledge the efforts of my predecessor, President Buhari, and assure all Nigerians that the reform-oriented path he initiated will be consolidated and strengthened under this administration.
“Our ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is inspired by the desire to build a resilient, just and inclusive Nigeria, a nation that delivers dividends of democracy to all its citizens.”
The President further stressed that under the stewardship of former President Buhari, Nigeria witnessed a decisive push to confront insecurity, a serious commitment to infrastructure renewal, a renewed focus on self-reliance and a clear effort to sanitize the public sector. These themes resonate strongly in this book and must be appreciated in their full historic dimensions.
“The book we are gathered to launch, is a compelling and sincere documentation of leadership from within. Through the eyes and experiences of a spokesman who worked at the very heart of power, we are offered a unique, unfiltered and well-considered insight into the decisions, challenges and accomplishments that defined President Buhari’s tenure from 2015 to 2023.
“Mallam Garba Shehu has done more than tell a story. He has captured a legacy. He has put forward a chronicle that provides context and clarity to the policy directions, governing principles and leadership philosophy of a man whose disciplined and unwavering sense of duty left a significant imprint on our nation’s governance architecture.
“From the restoration of fiscal discipline to the diversification of the economy, from the development of critical national infrastructure to the transformation of our rail and road networks, and from the expansion of social investment programmes to the repositioning of the agricultural sector, President Buhari’s era reflected an earnest attempt to reposition Nigeria for future resilience.
“In foreign policy, he was deliberate and consistent. Nigeria’s voice remained steady and respected within the African Union and the international community. Our engagements with global partners were guided by a principled foreign policy doctrine that upheld national interest, regional stability and non-alignment.
“At this juncture, it is also worth commending President Buhari’s humility and restraint in the exercise of Presidential power, hallmarks of democratic maturity. In the face of provocation, he remained calm. In moments of uncertainty, he held steady. His was a Presidency of discipline and quiet strength.”
President Tinubu comm3nd3d the former spokesman for this great work saying; “Mallam Shehu’s account provides a critical behind-the-scenes perspective. The book also serves as a repository of wisdom for public communicators, policymakers, scholars, historians and Nigerians at large. It offers key lessons on leadership communication, governance under pressure and the intersection between power and public perception.
“As a nation, we must never get tired of documenting our journey. If we must move forward purposefully, we must learn from the past with honesty. Books like this play a vital role in that learning process. They preserve memory, illuminate truth and sharpen our collective understanding of nationhood.
“I commend Mallam Shehu for this work of deep insight and historical relevance. I congratulate the Organizing Committee of this Book’s Public Presentation all those who supported its production.
“As we unveil this book, may it serve as a mirror to the past, a compass for the present, and a beacon for the future. Let us continue to invest in honest storytelling, objective assessments and constructive national dialogue,” he added.
In his contributions, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha informed that the coalition of political parties that formed the APC, contributed a fraction of votes that brought former President Buhari to power.
He said the merger was from the beginning, anchored around Buhari due his his popularity and strong political base with several millions of votes always, assured.
He said: “I do not intend to stir up any controversy. The mager in 2015, was built to create a Buhari Presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election, it was the Obasanjo and Buhari Presidential contest where Buhari recorded 2.7 million. In the next election, he got 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.
“When we were conceptualising the merger, what will give us a headstart and obviously, it is at the back of our consciousness that the merger with the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), though it has only one state, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has six states, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) three states, and when you sum up the total votes that gave us the presidency in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million. So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was only three million votes.”
The book reviewer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Prof Umaru Pate described the book as compendium of what happened during the sojourn of Garba Shehu at the Presidential villa, right from when he served under former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and later, former President Buhari.
Presenting the book, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to former President Buhari thanked the former President for finding him worthy to serve the nation, first 1984 as the nation’s representative at the United Nations and Chief of Staff, after the death of former Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari.
Some of the dignitaries that graced the occasion includes former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon, former Vice Presidents, Atiku Abubakar and Prof Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola and former SGF, Babagana Kingibe, amongst several others.
