The Presidency on Wednesday explained that like a good
wine, President Muhammadu Buhari who will clock 73 in
December gets better with age.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr.
Femi Adesina, stated this in a press release made available to
journalists in Abuja.
He was reacting to a statement credited to Buhari during an
audience he granted Nigerians resident in South Africa that
his age would limit his performance as the President of the
country.
Buhari had told the gathering that “I wish I became Head of
State when I was a governor. Now at 72, there is a limit to
what I can do.”
Although he admitted that the President made the statement,
Adesina said it was not an admission that Buhari was too old
to cope with the demands of his office.
He said the President currently in the saddle is like an old
wine that has got tastier.
The presidential spokesman said although at 72, Buhari could
not be called a youth, but he has in quantum the wisdom,
patience, temperance and forbearance that age brings.
He said he had brought all these virtues to the Presidency to
make a difference in national life.
The statement read in part, “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.
“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.
“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 President assured the Nigerian community in South
Africa that his administration will make a positive impact on
the country. And that he would do.
“Insecurity as symbolised by insurgency will be brought to an
end, corruption will be fought to a standstill, employment will
be created for the teeming army of unemployed, the
economy will be revived, and the quality of life of Nigerians
will take an upward swing again.
“These will not come by a sudden flight, but they will happen
in the life of this administration.”
Adesina added that at 72, the Buhari persona has not
changed.
He said the President remained “the simple, honest,
incorruptible patriot he has always been.”
He added that because Nigerians earnestly desired change,
that was why they voted for him overwhelmingly at the
general elections in March.
He said all the virtues and values of the Buhari persona
would be deployed into governance in the weeks and months
ahead.
Adesina recalled that the Nigerian community in South Africa
was enthralled as Buhari spoke with them on Monday.
He said 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,” he concluded.
Source:www.punchng.com/politics/buhari-gets-better-with-age-presidency/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter