Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2023 presidential election, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his handling of insecurity.

Mr Tinubu, who said he would continue with Mr Buhari’s policies if elected, disclosed this at the presidential flag-off of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project in the North-East on Tuesday.

“No one foreign flag is flying over our country any longer. We may be hungry but we can manage our hunger. We don’t want to kill each other. Today you gave us a path to prosperity, a path to success.

“This (oil exploration in the north) discovery will provide a multiplicity of opportunity and great prosperity for Nigeria. We will continue where you promised the country. Forward looking, renewed hope and success and prosperity for Nigeria. God bless you,” Mr Tinubu said.

The former Lagos governor commended Mr Buhari, likening him to great generals who came to the rescue of their country, such as “Dwight D. Eisenhower of America, Charles de Gaulle of France and Winston Churchill of Great Britain”.

Mr Tinubu further stated that “Whatever they say in their social media, television comments and write ups, history will be very kind to you because you are in the class of great retired generals who came to rescue their country.”

In 2018, Nigeria displaced India to become the world’s poverty capital, according to a report by Brookings Institution, while the debt profile of the giant of Africa hit N42 trillion in June under the watch of Mr Buhari, according to data from the Debt Management Office.

With the regime proposing to borrow over N11 trillion to fund the 2023 budget deficit, Mr Bubari will bequeath to Nigeria over N50 trillion debt when he leaves office next year in May.

Mr Tinubu, a member of Mr Buhari’s ruling APC, is contesting the 2023 presidency against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of Labour Party and a host of other candidates.