Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has replied his critics who accused him of handing over a nation at the verge of collapse to his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking with Friends of Africa Coalition at the Mayor’s office in New Jersey, USA, Jonathan recounted the achievements of his government to include handing over a country that produced the richest man in Africa.
Jonathan said: “I am proud to say that while I took over a Nigeria that was the second largest economy in Africa with a GDP of $270.5 billion in 2009, I handed over a Nigeria that had grown to become the largest economy in Africa and the 24th largest economy in the World with a GDP of $574 billion.
“I inherited a Nigeria in which the trains were not working, and handed over a Nigeria in which citizens can safely travel by trains again. I inherited a Nigeria that was a net importer of cement, and handed over a Nigeria that is a net exporter of cement. In 2009 the richest Nigerian was the 5th richest man in Africa, but I handed over a Nigeria that produced the richest man in Africa.”
The former President stated that democracy will continue to grow in the African continent if leaders value the process of elections more than the product of the process.
Jonathan explained his reasons for handing over to his successor after losing the 2015 Presidential election, stressing that he respected the will of the people
