Former President Muhammadu Buhari has urged members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians in their governance, noting that leadership is both a challenge and an opportunity.
He said that effectively balancing both would go a long way in moving the country forward.
Buhari made the call while receiving APC governors who visited him in Daura to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. He expressed confidence in the progress being recorded by the APC-led states and encouraged continued commitment to national development.
Leaders must put citizens first, says Buhari
The former president emphasized that leaders must focus on serving the people rather than themselves, citing his own example of leaving office with the same physical assets he had before becoming president.
“I have not added a single item to my personal belongings since I left office,” Buhari said in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu.
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for renovating his home in Kaduna, pointing out that while the house retained its outward appearance, significant improvements had been made inside.
“Thank you for your service,” APC governors tell Buhari
Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, said the governors came to pay their respects during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration and to express deep appreciation for Buhari’s enduring contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and the APC.
“Many of us recall with pride the principled role you played in the founding of the APC. That legacy continues to shape our party’s identity and direction,” Uzodinma said.
He added that Buhari’s recent public declaration of loyalty to the APC served as a major morale boost.
“That declaration could not have come at a better time. It reaffirmed your place as a pillar of our movement and provided reassurance to members of our party. Mr President, you are pan-Nigerian,” he said.
A legacy of integrity and reform
Uzodinma described Buhari’s administration as one that exemplified the APC’s core principles, especially in the areas of security, economic revival, and anti-corruption.
“Your administration gave expression to our party’s core principles through your focus on security, economic recovery, and anti-corruption. Your efforts reclaimed territory from insurgents, extended social investment programs like the Conditional Cash Transfer and School Feeding Program, and ushered in road and rail infrastructure development,” he stated.
“Programs such as the Anchor Borrowers Scheme directly impacted food security. You taught us to produce what we eat and eat what we produce. You brought dignity to governance and deepened the progressive ethos of our party.”
Uzodinma also praised Buhari’s smooth handover to President Tinubu, calling it a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
“You remain the only opposition candidate in our nation’s history to have defeated an incumbent. You did not only win power, you governed with calm resolve and handed over, with honor, to another APC president.”
The governors lauded Tinubu’s leadership, describing it as bold and reform-driven, and thanked Buhari for publicly endorsing his successor.
“Your public endorsement of him in your recent birthday message was a powerful symbol of continuity and humility,” Uzodinma said.
“Your Excellency, today we honor you, not just for your past service but for the enduring values you represent. We ask you to continue to support and guide us as we take the next steps to deepen progressive politics across the nation, and ensure that APC continues to be in power for a more prosperous Nigeria.”
