I DIDN'T HAND OVER A COLLAPSED NATION TO BUHARI - JONATHAN

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, and 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