ABUJA – The Presidential Spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari should not be misrepresented in the statement that he made about his age and his previous job as a military governor.
This is contained in a news release he issued in Abuja to correct the impression created in some media by the publication.
Adesina said that rather than being an impediment to Buhari, “at 72, yes, he can’t be called a youth, but he has in quantum the wisdom, the patience, temperance and forbearance that age brings.
“And all these virtues he has brought to the Presidency, to make a difference in our national life.’’
The release recalled what Buhari told the Nigerian community at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Monday evening.
Speaking extempore, because according to him, he wanted to “speak from the heart,” the President urged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, a country he went to the warfront to keep together.
“Still extolling the virtues of our country, Nigeria, the President, who had served as a military governor of the then North-Eastern State at 33 years old, declared: I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”
“The above comments have been reported by some newspapers to mean that the President was saying he was too old to cope with the demands of his office. Far from it,’’ the release explained.
Adesina said, “as the saying goes, `old wines are tasty’ and the President Buhari we have today is a man, like old wine, that has got tastier.’’
Adesina recalled that the President had assured the Nigerian community in South Africa that his administration would make a positive impact on the country.
He noted that Buhari assured that insecurity as symbolised by insurgency would be brought to an end, corruption fought to a standstill, employment created for the teeming army of unemployed, the economy revived, and the quality of life of Nigerians raised.
“These will not come by a sudden flight, but they will happen in the life of this administration.
“At 72, the Buhari persona has not changed. He remains the simple, honest, incorruptible patriot he has always been.
“And because Nigerians earnestly desired change, that was why they voted for him overwhelmingly at the general elections in March, this year.
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“All the virtues and values of the Buhari persona will be deployed into governance in the weeks and months ahead,’’ Adesina added.
He said the Nigerian community in South Africa was enthralled as President Buhari spoke with them.
“In fact, leaving the venue was an effort, as they swarmed round the President, who shook hands with as many of them as he could.
“They took his message well; that is the essence of good wine; it gets better with age.
“And it is a message for all Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora,’’ Adesina explained.(NAN)
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