We must respect our people – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says leaders must respect and appreciate citizens in a democracy.

His spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement, quoted him as saying this at State House, Abuja, yesterday while receiving the president of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, who was on a courtesy visit.

• Why patronizing Made-in-Nigeria vehicles could boost local firms
• Nigeria will cease to exist without traditional rulers — Alaafin

Buhari said: “People do themselves a lot of favour when the right things are done.

“We cannot stop educating people that they are doing themselves a lot of favour when they do the right things in a democracy.

“The future of our countries lies in our hands. We must respect our people, and appreciate their support. And when the people do the right things, they do themselves a lot of favour”.

Buhari also spoke on why he led an ECOWAS onslaught against the sit-tight President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia in 2016, saying that it was the least Nigeria could do to stabilize the sub-region.

“I was in Gambia physically at least two times. It was the least we could do to stabilize the region. We’ve accepted multi-party democracy, and we must comply with its tenets. By supporting you, we were supporting ECOWAS. We’re dealing with our own troubles here, but we’ll continue to support you bilaterally, and through ECOWAS.”