President Muhammadu Buhari says he wants his successor to follow his lead on security and the economy.

He also stated that his regime would keep giving its best for the country’s development until May 2023, when he would relinquish power.

Mr Buhari reiterated that he would hand over power as stipulated by the Constitution.

“I know I swore by the Constitution, and I will leave in 17 months. I pray that the person that will take over from us will also follow the targets of securing the country and building the economy,” th dictator-turned-democratic president stated. “Without securing the country, you cannot grow the economy.”

In a statement, presidential media aide Femi Adesina said the president gave the assurance at the inauguration of Oriental Energies Resource Ltd Hanger, Muhammadu Indimi Distance Learning Centre, and an International Conference Centre.

On Thursday, the centre was donated to the University of Maiduguri by business mogul Muhammadu Indimi.

Mr Buhari also inaugurated the Tijjani Bolori Memorial Secondary School and the first flyover in Borno, Custom Roundabout (3.5km) with a stretch of 10km Gamboru Ngala Road constructed by the state government.

Mr Buhari added that Nigerians should appraise his regime’s performance based on the situation on security, economy and corruption before he came in and where it is now.

“We have a great country,” asserted Mr Buhari, “and we thank God for giving us so much resources. But we need to develop our resources.”

The president noted that development would be more sustainable by empowering the people.

On security in the North-West, he said it was sad that the people who lived together, sharing the same culture and outlook for a long time, were kidnapping and killing one another.

According to him, the military will come down hard on the North-West to stabilise the situation, having procured more weapons.

(NAN)