President Muhammadu Buhari said he had done his best to serve Nigeria, adding that he accept both the accolades and criticisms in equal measure.

In his 2023 New Year message to Nigerians, Buhari expressed the hope that his successor would continue the journey of making Nigeria one of the world’s leading countries.

He said, “As we welcome the New Year, let us look with hope to 2023, a year to move forward as a Nation towards unity, progress, and prosperity.

“I offer my own personal felicitations, mindful of the various opinions and interpretations of our executive legacies. I welcome and accept both the accolades and criticisms in an equal measure secure in the conviction that I did my best to serve our dear country Nigeria. And I pray that the next President will also pick up the baton and continue the race to make Nigeria one of the leading countries of the world by the end of this century.”

The President also appealed to Nigerians to avoid being used by some politicians to foil smooth elections. Rather, he said every citizen must participate in ways that ensure free and fair elections.

According to him, “We as Nigerians, must also take responsibility to ensure we participate in ensuring that the 2023 elections are free and fair by not engaging in anti-state activities and other nefarious acts that may affect the run of the polls.

“We must also resist every attempt to be used by politicians to create unrest in any form to disrupt the elections. We, as government will ensure such activities are met with the full force of the law.”