While delivering a lecture titled Nigeria and the future of the Black World, at the First Eminent Lecture Series of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, former American Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Walter Carrington, yesterday said the American government and other world powers were prepared to assist Nigeria regain its position as the giant of Africa because of their confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari was an honest leader and “tough enough to turn this country around.” He asserted that President Buhari would make life uncomfortable for the few Nigerians who corruptly enriched themselves to the detriment of the vast majority of the people. He said:
“As a private citizen Buhari lived modestly and since taking on the duties of president, he has set a refreshing example of financial transparency which all public officials should and must emulate. I believe that having been elected democratically as a civilian president, President Buhari will fulfil the third of Abraham Lincoln’s prepositional triad making his a government for the people, a government which cares more for the welfare of the poor majority and disadvantaged than for the unjust enrichment of the privileged few and their enablers who too often in the past have looted the national treasury.”
Ambassador Carrington, who reiterated his love for Nigeria which led to his decision to marry Dr Arese, an indigene of Edo State, lamented that Nigeria, with its rich potentials, ought to be a leading light in the world economy, rather, the world leaders always referred to Johannesburg in terms of business instead of Abuja.