No Way I Will Miss Aso Rock – Buhari

• You’re transparent and exceptionally humble – Tinubu adores Buhari

BY EDMOND ODOK – President Muhammadu Buhari says given the harassment and scathing criticisms from the public, he will not be happy to quit the  Aso Rock Presidential Villa come May 29, 2023.

According to him, not missing the Villa much has to do with the fact that despite all his efforts to make Nigeria a better country, some people have simply refused to acknowledge and appreciate them as being good enough.

President Buhari, who was responding to a question on what he will miss about the presidency after quitting office, said; “I wonder if I am going to miss much. I think I’m being harassed. I believe I’m trying my best but still, my best is not good enough.

“Because there are people around that think that they can intimidate me to get what they want instead of going through certain systems to earn whatever they want to earn. And they are some people who want to be clever by half.”

Speaking at a private dinner organised by his family and close associates on Friday, December 23 to mark his 80th birthday tagged; “Celebrating A Patriot, a Leader, an Elder Statesman”, the President also described the speculations around death and claims of ‘Jibril Aminu from Sudan’ occupying the Presidential Villa, as a joke that was taken too far by critics and the enemies of progress.

He said it is regrettable that some mischievous Nigerians have a way of creating humour to feast on something they do not understand, adding that the rumours about his death and Sudan’s Jubril were purely the handiwork of some mischief makers that brought to the fore their cheekiness and evil-mindedness.

Offering more insight on how he reacted to the rumour of Buhari’s impersonation, the President smilingly recalled; “Yes! People said I am somebody from Sudan. I didn’t bother with the name.

“Nigerians have mischievous ways of explaining themselves. No, it was not funny because those who made those statements just wanted to be cheeky.

“They wanted to distract attention from the main issue. Our main issue is to do the infrastructure and make people aware that they need to work hard to live well. They just want to enjoy life without earning the respect of their community and so on.”

About his married life, the President disclosed that his late wife’s two children died due to sickle cell anemia and that was the reason he remarried and also insisted the second wife must be AA genotype so that the children will not inherit the S from his AS genotype.

In his remarks at the occasion, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, assured that he would not disappoint President Muhammadu Buhari if elected president of the country in 2023.

Appreciating President Buhari for making huge sacrifices for Nigeria’s progress in the last eight years, the former Lagos State Governor said, “You have been at the helm of the affairs of this country at a critical time.

“We have seen a life of commitment, dedication, patriotism, and honesty. Mr President, you have done well for your country. Our nation has seen the difference, the leadership that you demonstrate.”

The APC Standard bearer that the President belongs to the class of leaders who came and served their country with commitment, dedication patriotism, and honesty, even as he likened him to leaders like “Charles De Gaulle of France, Franklin Roosevelt of America, Winston Churchill of Great Britain and Buhari of Nigeria.”

Asiwaju Tinubu, who was accompanied to the event by his APC running mate, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, further said; “The leadership you have demonstrated reminded me of the speech you gave at the Primary Convention when you won the nomination. You thanked the people with all humility and said even if you had the money, you would not have paid.

“But that is because, they know who you are, a man of integrity, great commitment, transparency and exceptional humility. God will continue to spare you to see the history as you want it for the country, the ship of this nation will be on the right course.

“You will live long to enjoy a nice evening of democracy that you brought about. When you talk of PVC, card reader, transparency, and honesty in the electoral process like you did, we can only promise not to let you down.”

In wishing the President a joyful celebration, the APC presidential candidate said; “Enjoy 80 till you celebrate other birthdays”