Buhari at 79, Promises to Put in His Best for Nigeria Till He Leaves Office in 2023

* Says he’s itching to return to his farm to tend to his crops and livestock

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari at a surprise 79th birthday reception organised for him in Instanbul, Turkey on Friday promised to advance the interest of Nigerians and that of the nation as he prepares to leave office in May 2023.

The president, at the forum, also disclosed that he is itching to return to his farm in Daura, Katsina State to tend to his crops and livestock.

According to a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, the president on his 79th birthday on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey, cut a birthday cake moulded in national colours, green-white-green, to start the day, 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.

Responding 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 tend to his crops and livestock.

According to him, “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.”

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.