Border closure: You can no longer escape to Niger, Tinubu tells Buhari

President Bola Tinubu says ex-President Muhammadu Buhari can no longer relocate to Niger Republic as he had promised.

Tinubu said this Tuesday in Abuja, during the unveiling of two books titled ‘Working with Buhari (2015 – 2023)’ and ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy – 2015 – 2023 (Vols 1-5)’.

DailyTrust reports that Buhari had said he would leave for neighbouring Niger Republic after handing over as President if he is not able to get enough rest in Daura, his home town in Katsina State.

But speaking, during the launch of the books, Tinubu said his predecessor won’t be able to achieve that due to border closure.

He said: “When President Buhari was leaving office he said he would retire to Daura, far away from Abuja to enjoy his well-deserved retirement from public service.

“I remember he added that if his supporters and friends deny him of enough rest in Daura, he would run to the Republic of Niger. Well, as you all know, he can no longer escape to Niger Republic because of the border closure.

“I am therefore extremely happy to receive him here in Abuja. We are all here today to honour a great man, a patriot, a dedicated public servant who offered his best in the service of our country since he joined the army in 1962 at age 18.”

Following the July 26, 2023 coup in Niger, Nigeria had imposed sanctions, including border closure, on the military junta in the neighbouring country as a measure for the restoration of democracy, but the regime failed to yield to pressure.

Tinubu also thanked author of the book, Femi Adesina, who served him as the Special Adviser on Media & Publicity from 2015 to 2023.

He said the memoir gave an insight into what transpired in the eight years of Buhari, promising to finish off some of the things started by Buhari.

“I particularly thank Femi for using his memoirs to let us into the challenging eight years of the administration and how his principal steered the ship of State. 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 swaths of our territory in North East.

“At a point it appeared 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. 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 existential threat to our sovereignty.

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

“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.”