President Muhammadu Buhari has said the 2023 elections have proven the vibrancy and maturity of Nigerians.
Buhari said given the chance of a free and fair election and non-interference as was witnessed in the 2023 elections, Nigerians have proved to be capable of deciding who leads them without anyone telling them what to do.
The president, who expressed satisfaction with the remarkable passion towards democracy exhibited by Nigerians through the choices they made in the Presidential, National Assembly and the subsequent Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, said Nigeria’s democracy has truly matured.
According to Buhari: “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.”
Buhari who was speaking at a farewell meeting with the outgoing United States Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard at the State House in Abuja, said he was completely satisfied with his own role in the election process staying above it, without meddlesomeness or any form of interference.