President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his main objective is to provide transparency and accountability in government.
He made this known in a 55-minute documentary on him titled “Buhari: Beyond the Iron and Steel”, and aired on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, on Sunday.
In the documentary put together by his media team he also pledged not to betray the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian masses.
Said Buhari in a remark in the documentary: “I pray five times a day thanking God that allowed people to understand and believe me.
“This goodwill that I enjoy from the masses is what is keeping me in politics and of course, my central objective is to provide transparency and accountable government.”
In the documentary, some top officials of the government spoke about Buhari’s other side:
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo: He gives you things to do, and leaves you strictly to do those things. No interference at all, once he has confidence in you….And he cracks those jokes, and manages to still keep a straight face.
Mr Babatune Raji Fashola, minister of Power, Works and Housing: He gave me some priority projects: Mokwa/Jebba Road, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, and Second Niger Bridge…He never appends his signature to anything, unless you’ve explained, and he understands it.
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Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State governor: When we were in the opposition, you needed to see how we rolled on the floor in his living room, as we laughed. Of course, we can’t do that again now.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State: I wish I had his patience. He would listen to everybody, and then take a decision. He is a reformed democrat.
Meanwhile, before it was aired, the timing of the airing of the documentary attracted criticism.
Many had said on different social media that it was wrong to choose to air the documentary at a time Nigerians were suffering as a result of the hardship caused by fuel scarcity.
But in its reaction, the Presidency said the release of the documentary was to spice the holiday season.
“It’s a spice for the holiday and not even ephemeral fuel crisis would dampen the enthusiasm of positive minded Nigerians,” said Femi Adesina, the president’s media aide, in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to The Next Edition.
He further explained that life should not continue to be about stories of doom, hence the decision to go ahead despite the artificial fuel scarcity.