Buhari

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his 80th birthday.

Tinubu praised the president for his dedication to nation-building and many years of patriotic service to the nation in a statement released by his media officer, Tunde Rahman.

Tinubu added that Buhari enlisted himself into the service of the nation as a youngster and entered the military right out of secondary school. He hailed the president as “a patriot, selfless and resolute leader of extraordinary fervor.”

At the age of 80, Tinubu claimed that the president can look back on his military career and be proud of his spotless record of service to the nation as a soldier, platoon commander, general commanding officer, military governor, minister of petroleum, head of state, chairman of the petroleum trust fund, and as the country’s current president.

The statement read, “I heartily congratulate my president and my leader, Muhammadu Buhari, on the momentous and remarkable occasion of his 80th birthday.

“An officer and a gentleman, President Buhari has been a selfless and steadfast leader, and a patriot with uncommon zeal who has dedicated almost his entire life to the service of Nigeria.

“Our country is lucky to have this great man and dedicated public servant at this time. President Buhari has led an extraordinary life of service to Nigeria at every duty post with unassailable integrity. History will be kind to him and record his contributions to the progress, unity and stability of Nigeria in volumes.

“As a people, we are truly blessed to have a president who sees no higher honour than the opportunity to serve his people, a responsibility he has always carried with utmost dedication.

“We are proud that at age 80, this noble man, an officer and a gentleman is still rendering his service, recording tremendous achievements, the country making remarkable progress under his leadership, and his steady hands gradually guiding the country to the Promised Land.

“On behalf of our great party, APC, and my family, I join the family, friends, associates and all well-wishers of President Buhari to wish him happy birthday and many happy returns of the day in good health.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Abuja for the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, where he will take part in the African Union (AU) Extraordinary Session of Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

This was disclosed in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
He said the summit will specifically be focused on security.

The statement reads: “The three-day summit, which will hold on May 26th-28th, will also focus on Humanitarian Challenges in Africa, with related issues on migration, refugees, returnees and Internally Displaced Persons.
“At the summit, the African leaders will look at Terrorism and Unconstitutional Change of Government, with attendant spiraling effects on human rights and economies.

“President Buhari will join other Heads of State and Government to deliberate on Humanitarian Challenges, Hopes, and Challenges in Africa, and participate in the adoption of Assembly Declaration on Humanitarian Summit and pledging conference.
“On security and governance, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union will take a united position on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Change of Government, and reach agreements on new approaches to stem the tide.”

The First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who is the President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, is accompanying her husband to the African Union meeting.
The President is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (Retd); Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq; National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (Retd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and Chairman, Nigerians In Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) Abike Dabiri-Erewa.