‘We’ll crush Boko Haram, bandits, agents of darkness’ – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, who, he said, courageously took over the reins of power in 2015 at a critical time when terrorism was at its peak in the country.

Tinubu, who spoke as the chief guest at the launch of the book “Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity (2015–2023)” by Femi Adesina, said he inherited the job of securing every inch of the country, which is yet to be finished.

Tinubu also boasted that his government will stamp out the vestiges of Boko Haram, Ansaru, banditry and kidnapping gangs, adding that “we won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out.”

The President said he was aware that he inherited huge liabilities from his predecessor but he would work to complete them, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway.

Painting a picture that the task of governing the country was not an easy one, Tinubu said President Buhari assumed office at a very difficult period of our national life when the economy was spiralling into recession and Boko Haram had taken over swathes of territory in the North East.

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According to him, it even appeared at a point that even Abuja, the seat of government, would fall into the hands of Boko Haram with the bombing of the UN Building, Banex Plaza, Nyanya and other locations within the Federal Capital Territory.

He said: “We cannot easily forget how our armed forces battled the Boko Haram terrorists under the leadership of President Buhari to reclaim our territory and push them to the fringes of Lake Chad, where they no longer pose an existential threat to our sovereignty.

“I must say the job of securing every inch of our country is yet to be finished. My government will stamp out the remaining vestiges of Boko Haram, Ansaru, banditry and kidnapping gangs. We won’t rest until every agent of darkness is completely rooted out.”

Speaking further at the well-attended book launch, which had Alhaji Mohammed Indimi as the chief launcher, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and former ministers who served under Buhari’s government, Tinubu said he was extremely happy to receive his predecessor in Abuja.

His words: “We are all here today to honour a great man, a patriot, and a dedicated public servant who offered his best in the service of our country since he joined the army in 1962 at age 18.

“President Buhari served our country with dedication and uncommon zeal. First, as a military officer who offered unblemished service, manning important commands and political positions, and crowning it as military Head of State on January 1, 1984; second, as a politician who ran four times for the highest office until he was elected President in 2015.

“The author of the books we are here to present to the public has done justice to the essential Muhammadu Buhari, especially on his tenure and legacy as the 15th President of Nigeria.”

He said history will be kind to ex-President Buhari for promoting local production of goods to grow our economy.

“It will be said glowingly of President Buhari that in his eight turbulent years, marked by an acute shortage of revenue, the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down the global economy for almost two years, his administration embarked on the most ambitious infrastructural renewal for the country.

“President Buhari gave us the second Niger Bridge. He revamped the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He gave us the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe rail lines. He completed the Abuja-Kaduna rail line and the Lekki Seaport. He built brand new airports, among many other landmark economic projects. The Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway, which he started, will be completed by my administration, by the grace of God.

“Whatever challenges faced by President Buhari in his eight years that remain unresolved, our administration will endeavour to resolve them. As I said during the campaigns, I inherited all his assets and liabilities,” Tinubu stated.

He further vowed that his administration will continue to work from where President Buhari stopped, “to make our country better, create a vibrant economy and secure the environment to bring more prosperity to our people.”