Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has defended the legacy of late former President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that Nigeria’s economy and education sector were in a stronger position when the former leader left office.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, Sirika dismissed claims that Buhari’s administration was responsible for Nigeria’s current economic challenges, saying he did not agree with that assessment.

According to him, Buhari’s government performed well economically, describing the country as being in a better state during the former president’s tenure.

“The truth of the matter is that Buhari did extremely well on the economy. I’m not an economist, but I know because I’m in the country, and I know the country was in a good state,” Sirika said.

He added that Nigeria was in a stronger position both economically and in the education sector under Buhari, whom he credited with leaving behind “a country that was flourishing.”

Sirika, however, declined to compare Buhari’s administration with that of President Bola Tinubu or criticise the current government’s policies, saying it would be unfair for him to comment on decisions made by either president.

“I am neither President Buhari nor President Tinubu, so I cannot fully comment on the policies they made or the decisions they took while in office. I don’t think it would be fair for me to sit here and criticize policies,” he said.