President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigerians should be grateful to God amid rising insecurity, as the country’s challenges are minimal compared to other African countries.

“We are not alone. If only we know what other countries in Africa are passing through, we will be grateful to God and protect our country,” Mr Buhari said. “Other African countries are passing through a lot.”

A statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, quoted the president as speaking during Sallah’s homage to the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, in Katsina on Saturday.

Mr Buhari maintained that his administration was doing its best to address security concerns, which the Emir and Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina highlighted in their remarks.

Meanwhile, Mr Buhari said the process that led to the election of Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the APC was purely democratic and a reflection of the will of party members.

“I told each of the aspirants to go and do their best. One particular governor, in his wisdom, came to meet me and asked who they should vote for at the party convention, checking if I had a preferred candidate.

“There was no need for interference, knowing the competence of all the aspirants. They went and elected Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and he picked his running mate, Sen. Kashim Ibrahim.

“I am praying that we will have peaceful and successful elections,” the president said.

Mr Buhari, who thanked Nigerians for their support for the APC in 2015, and 2019, said he had a rich experience in the 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections, travelling to all the 774 local councils in the country, and in 2019, visiting 36 states.

“I feel privileged that Nigerians elected me in 2015. Since then, we have been doing our best to tackle the challenges, with God helping us,” Mr Buhari added.

(NAN)