The presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in last year's general elections, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has called on Nigerians to salvage the country from becoming a failed state.

In his Eid-el-Fitr and independence anniversary message, Buhari regretted that Nigeria is currently classified among the Low Income Coun-tries Under Stress (LICUS) despite the abundance of human and material resources.

"Our 48th independence anniversary has come provi-dentially at the conclusion of Ramadan fasting, when millions of our Muslim com-patriots rose to the demand of their faith for self denial, discipline and sharing with their neighbours and fellow citizens what they have for the joy of all.

"As I share the joy and blessing of the season with you, may I also solemnly call on all Nigerians to reflect deeply on how in spite of the abundant human and material resources that God endowed us with; Ni-geria is still regrettably classified among Low Income Countries Under Stress (LICUS), verging on the ignominy of a failed state," Buhari said.

He said that Nigerians should deeply reflect the challenges of bad governance, unemploy-ment, corruption and widening mass poverty among others.

"In this auspicious time, I invite Nigerians to a deep reflection; bearing in mind the challenges of bad government, widening mass poverty, unem-ployment, poor electricity supply, bad roads and monu-mental corruption.

"I do not need to remind you that this is the only country we have, we must therefore salvage her," he said.

The former Head of State urged Nigerians to embrace ge-nuine democracy where peo-ples' vote count and sanctity of the ballot box is guaranteed.

"Accordingly, we must em-brace genuine democracy where the sanctity of the ballot box is upheld, where the peo-ples' vote are counted and their prosperity and right of choice guaranteed," Buhari said.