Former Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has praised the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, maintaining that it handed over a stable and thriving nation with a resilient economy, enhanced security and a solid platform for future administrations.
Speaking in an interview on Monday ahead of activities marking the first anniversary of Buhari’s death, Sirika rejected claims that the former president’s policies were responsible for the economic hardship experienced by Nigerians.
He said Buhari’s government delivered notable achievements despite facing several challenges during its tenure.
“I don’t want to get involved in that argument, but the reality is that President Buhari performed exceptionally well in managing the economy,” Sirika stated.
Although he acknowledged that he is not an economist, the former minister said his time in government gave him firsthand knowledge of the country’s condition under Buhari.
“I was part of the administration and witnessed the situation myself. From what I saw, Nigeria was in a healthy position economically, socially and politically,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether Buhari left behind a stable economy and enough resources for his successor, Sirika answered in the affirmative.
“I believe he did,he handed over a country that was prospering,” he said.
Sirika, however, refrained from assessing the policies of President Bola Tinubu, saying it would be inappropriate for him to publicly criticise the current administration.
He noted that both Buhari and Tinubu have been implementing policies guided by the ideology of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The policies of President Muhammadu Buhari reflected our party’s agenda, and the policies President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pursuing are also rooted in the APC’s philosophy,” he explained.
According to Sirika, neither Buhari nor Tinubu introduced policies with the aim of causing hardship for Nigerians.
“As a member of the APC, I believe their decisions are not made to harm the country. They are acting on the advice available to them and responding to the demands of their respective periods with what they consider to be the best choices for Nigeria,” he added.
Sirika made the remarks ahead of commemorative events organised by Buhari’s allies and associates to mark the first anniversary of the former president’s death. Buhari passed away on July 13, 2025.
(The Whistler)