“My government was transparent, accountable“ – Buhari replies critics

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has insisted that his administration was transparent and accountable.

Buhari made the comment in Abuja on Tuesday at the public presentation of two books on his administration.

The former Nigerian leader was reacting to recent criticisms of his administration after some of his aides and appointees were fingered in corrupt deals.

Buhari had campaigned in 2015 on the slogan of fighting corruption to a standstill in Nigeria.

But recent revelations have casted doubts on the sincerity of the immediate past administration in rooting out graft in the polity.

In response to the criticisms, the former president said:

“These books presented today once again exemplify the sanctity of records, and the role they play in documenting facts and figures, achievements and milestones, either in our personal lives, or in the life of a nation.

“Without documentation, revisionism wins. Human beings often have short memories, and unless events are recorded in cold print, some people would come and attempt to either distort, or even obliterate recent history.

“But the fact in our favour is that nothing was done under the veil of secrecy. We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge.

“We kept records of our stewardship, knowing that we would always be required to account for the trust entrusted to us. This event today is part of accounting for our two terms in office, and I thank those who have laboured day and night, to ensure that this history is recorded for now and the future.

“Facts and records will ultimately prove them wrong. When some people engage in deliberate falsehood and distortion of facts that pertain to our tenure in office, I take solace in the fact that records are there, and will remain inviolable.”