Buhari will rule better at old age –Presidency

Firstclass newsline gathered that the Presidency on Wednesday
explained that like a good wine, President Muhammadu Buhari who will
clock 73 in December, gets better with age.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi
Adesina, stated this in a statement 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 would 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 youths, 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 has not changed.
He said President Buhari 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 Nigerians in South Africa were 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.
Firstclassnewsline.net