Failed presidential bids taught me lessons – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said his three-and-a-half-year incarceration, the nation’s civil war and his failed attempts to win presidential elections have taught him “important lessons about social justice.”

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke while receiving the Imam of the Mosque of the Holy Prophet in Medina, Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin Muhammad Al-Qassimi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Buhari said his administration would continue to promote unity and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians by ensuring fairness and social justice to all.

He said God had a purpose for bringing people from different ethnic backgrounds into one country, Nigeria.

“God knows best. A population of 180 million people comprising more than 300 ethnic groups, many of them with cultural ties stronger than religion, can only co-exist peacefully in an atmosphere of social justice,” he said.

The President urged Muslims and all other citizens to imbibe and practise social justice as a norm and prayed to Allah to guide his government in doing the same.

“I pray that God gives us the courage to be fair to people he put in our charge so that we can enjoy his mercy,” he said.

The President commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their efforts to create a better understanding and practice of Islam.

He welcomed the visit of the imam to Nigeria, noting that it would strengthen the bond between the two countries.

In his remarks, Al-Qassimi commended the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians of different faiths.

He expressed satisfaction with the cordial relations between government and religious leaders and called for better teaching and practice of Islam devoid of extremism.