President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said democracy is too slow.

He made the statement at a ceremony in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to mark his 77th birthday.

He said:

“Well, like I said, I have learned in the hard way. When I came in uniform, I got those who were leading, took them to Kirikiri (Maximum Prisons) and told them they were guilty until they could prove themselves innocent.

“I put, based on almost all the geopolitical zones, committees to investigate them. Those that were found to have lived beyond their means, the balance was taken and was given to the states.

“But, I myself was arrested, detained…So, under this system (democracy), which is supposed to be more accountable, it is too slow for my liking, but I have to follow it.”

Buhari also said hard work was required for success at subsequent polls.

He said, “What I want to promise Nigerians is that I will work very hard on free and fair elections.

“All those that are going to succeed in the National Assembly and the Presidency, they better work very hard because I will make sure, using the law enforcement agencies, that elections are free and fair; that nobody uses his office or his resources to force himself on his constituency.”