He made the remark after President Jonathan handed over executive summary of the handover notes and a copy of the National Conference report to him.
The ceremony was held at the Presidential Villa after Buhari and the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, were conducted round some offices and facilities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari maintained that Jonathan’s singular act of conceding defeat has not only earned the respect of Nigerians but also of world leaders.
He said: “Until I read and digest this notes from the President, I don’t think I will be in a position to make any strong contribution.
“But what I will say is since the telephone call you made, you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi party democracy and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.
“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand, a lot of relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is largely owed to a situation.
“If you had wanted to make things difficult, you could have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of lives of poor Nigerians, but you chose the part of honour and may God help all of us. Thank you very much your Excellency.”
Part of President-elect’s entourage to the seat of power include the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun, members of the two parties’ transition committees, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Muhammed.