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President Muhamamadu Buhari, looking forward to life after 2023, has said he will be returning to his farm after handing over to the next president of Nigeria.
On his 79th birthday on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey, President Buhari once again pledged that he will put in his best for Nigeria until the last day when in 2023 he hands over to a successor and returns to his farm to tender crops and livestock.
“I look forward to the year 2023 when I finish, to go home to take charge of my farm. Between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people, and carry out my duties as prescribed by the Constitution,” he said.
His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement, that Buhari had cut a birthday cake moulded in national colours, green-white-green to start the day.
He said the President went straight to chair a planning meeting with officials in his delegation and thereafter drove to the Dolmabahce Palace for a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Recep Erdogan.
In response to the tribute on the occasion on behalf of the ministers and the rest of the delegation rendered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, President Buhari said he will put in his best for Nigeria until the last day when, in 2023 he hands over to a successor and returns to his farm to tender crops and livestock.
“I thought that being away from Abuja I will escape these things. The Guards Brigade had written to tell me what they wanted to do on this day. Now here you are doing this far away from home.
“I look forward to the year 2023 when I finish, to go home to take charge of my farm. Between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people, and carry out my duties as prescribed by the Constitution,” he said.
As he stepped out of his suite moving to the meeting room, President Buhari met a surprise lineup of the Nigerian delegation with a cake decorated in Nigeria’s national colours.
The group broke into a chorus, as they began chanting “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs who spoke on behalf of the delegation and the Ambassador of Nigeria to Turkey, Ismail Yusuf Abba, congratulated the President on the good work he is doing for the country, and wished him a happy birthday, many healthy years ahead and the energy to give his best to the nation.
Onyeama noted in particular that the President continues to have a good run with his health, getting better and more active with time.
Meanwhile, in furtherance of sustained efforts at keeping Nigerians safer, President Buhari said Nigeria will partner with the Republic of Turkey in dealing with the current security challenges facing the nation.
Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Turkish counterpart shortly before the official commencement of the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul, President Buhari acknowledged that Turkey had garnered a lot of experience dealing with security challenges of various kinds and Nigeria will latch onto that experience.
President Buhari said, “Turkey has practical experience dealing with challenges over the years and Nigeria stands to gain from that.”
Giving assurances that the relationship between the two states will continue to grow for the mutual benefits of both countries, President Buhari said he was pleased with the Turkish offer of support in the area of security and peace in Nigeria.
“I wish to express my appreciation for the special invitation for this meeting and to express my happiness with your offer of assistance in dealing with the challenges facing us.
‘‘I await the reports of officials and the ministers as they hold meetings with their counterparts. I assure you that I will endorse all their positive recommendations,” President Buhari assured Erdogan.
Earlier, the Turkish leader said that he was happy to receive President Buhari shortly after he paid an official visit to Nigeria.
“Turkey understands the challenges facing Nigeria and its needs, and we are ready to assist you to meet those needs especially in the area of defence.
‘‘I am happy Nigeria is stepping up cooperation with other nations in areas of defence and health, and we are ready to cooperate with you on these areas and more,” said President Erdogan.
Turkey, which has growing recognition in the world as a military power and had successes to show in Iraq, Syria, Libya and lately Azerbaijan said it welcomed the Nigerian government’s decision to buy naval ships from their shipyard, noting that discussions are ongoing on how to strengthen the capacity of the Defence Industries Corporation in Kaduna in line with an agreement signed during President Erdogan’s last state visit.
Tinubu hails Buhari at 79, calls him a reformer
Meanwhile, Sen. Bola Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Buhari on his 79th birthday.
Tinubu, in a statement signed by him on Friday in Lagos, described the President as a great reformer and democrat.
The APC National Leader said beyond his admiration and gratitude for the President’s achievements in office, he was proud to call him a friend and a brother.
“Your legacy as a great reformer and democrat will live long into the future. You are a man of high intellect and exceptional character,” he said.
Tinubu said that despite prevailing challenges, the president had continued to steer the ship of Nigeria through the most turbulent of waters.
“Your tenure in office has coincided with some of the most difficult and challenging times this country and, indeed, the entire global community has faced.
“Economic crises, global pandemics, insecurity and criminality have all played a role in making the past few years difficult for the people of our great country.
“Yet, despite it all, you continue, calmly and with uncommon dignity, to steer the ship of Nigeria through the most turbulent of waters.
“I, therefore, wish to appreciate the unseen and underappreciated work that you have done and continue to do to guide Nigeria ever nearer to its manifest destiny,” he said.
The former governor of Lagos said that through the careful leadership and measured governance of the country, the President’s administration had achieved many things for which the people could be proud.
He said that under President Buhari’s watch, previously abandoned infrastructure projects had been completed all over the country.
“Unheralded reforms and measures taken by your administration are also taking effect to bring greater transparency and accountability to governance,” he said
“I wish you a wonderful birthday and many more years in good health and renewed strength. Happy birthday Mr President,” he said.
TNG reports Buhari, a Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, was born to a Fulani family on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State.
He is a retired Nigerian Army Major General and has served as military head of state in Nigeria between 1983 and 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état.
Buhari ran for president of Nigeria in 2003, 2007, and 2011.
In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2015 general election.
Buhari won the election, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
This was the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost a general election.
He was sworn in on May 29, 2015.
In February 2019, Buhari was re-elected, defeating his closest rival former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by over three million votes.