President Buhari’s legacy lives on, TBN National Coordinator, Adekunle-Ajayi, says

Michael Olumide

National Coordinator of True Nigerians for Buhari (TNB), a pro-Buhari pressure group, Chief Nicholas Adekunle-Ajayi, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement made available to The Mirror by his Senior Media Adviser and Communication Strategist, Rev. Stanley Ihedigbo, Chief Adekunle-Ajayi described President Buhari as a true leader who shall never be forgotten.

He said that the President’s notable achievements were his historic victory over an incumbent president and several infrastructure development projects.

President Buhari’s victory over an incumbent president showcased his popularity and the trust Nigerians had in him.

He further said that President Buhari’s major achievements including on security, where his administration acquired 38 brand new aircraft for the Air Force, as well as 10 Super Mushshak, five MI-35 helicopters and two Bell helicopters.

“For the first time in history, the NAF has, under the president Muhammadu Buhari administration, successfully conducted several in-country periodic depot maintenance and avionics upgrade of some of its platforms.

For the navy, he said that more than 400 new platforms are now available, including 200 riverine patrol boats, 114 rigid hull inflatable boats, 22 fast attack boats, 14 unmanned aerial vehicles, four barges, and four helicopters, among others.

Under his administration, the presidency reported that hundreds of battle tanks, mine sweepers, armoured fighting vehicles, mountain climber bikes, infantry fighting vehicles, MRAPS, light tanks and several others were procured.

“ Nigerian military acquired over 700 brand new troop-carrying vehicles, all assembled in Nigeria. Over 40,000 police officers were recruited. In 2021 and 2022 alone, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 24,000 drug traffickers, including 29 barons, while 3,400 offenders were convicted.

“The value of drugs and cash seized came to more than N450 billion, while 772 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed,” he said.

He added that on infrastructure, under President Buhari’s watch, Nigerians witnessed the biggest and most ambitious federal infrastructure programme since Nigeria’s independence.

The Former board member of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, said Buhari’s achievements in terms of infrastructure as the 156 kilometres Lagos-Ibadan rail line, the purchase of 64 coaches and 21 locomotives, the 186 kilometres Abuja-Kaduna rail and the completion of the 327km Itakpe-Warri standard gauge rail.

On power, the Lagos APC Chieftain said that an incremental 4,000MW of power generating assets was completed during the life of his administration, including the Zungeru hydro, Kashimbila, Adam 111, Kudenda, Okpai phase 11, Dangote power plant, among others.

“ The Buhari administration extended more than N2 trillion in bailout packages to states to enable them to meet their salary and pension obligations, especially in the face of dwindling oil revenues in the first three years of the administration”, he explained

Chief Adekunle-Ajayi also shared his connection with President Buhari, having been associated with him politically from the days of the All People’s Party (APP) to the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and eventually the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He noted that he was appointed by President Buhari as a board member of the Federal Institute of Agricultural Produce Technology, Kano, and subsequently reappointed to the board of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi.

As the nation mourns the passing of President Buhari, Chief Adekunle-Ajayi extended his heartfelt condolences to the President’s family and loved ones.

He prayed that his soul rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire future generations of Nigerians.