Eminent Nigerians including former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose have paid glowing tributes to President Muhammadu Buhari to mark his 75th birthday. The former president in his message signed by his media adviser Ikechukwu Eze described the President as a statesman who has contributed to the growth of the nation at different times.
“I wish to most sincerely congratulate you on your 75th birthday. My family and I are pleased to join your numerous well wishers to felicitate with you as you mark this day.
“Your Excellency, you are a statesman whose place in history as Nigeria’s leader, at different epochs in our nation’s development journey, is guaranteed. I pray that God Almighty that has kept you alive and healthy will continue to protect and strengthen you as you lend your efforts to the bid to realize our collective dreams for a greater and more prosperous nation”.
On his part, Gov. Fayose congratulated the President on his birthday and advised him to quit the stage when the ovation is loudest. The statement issued by his Spokesperson, Idowu Adelusi read;
“This is to congratulate Mr President as he clocks 75. I want to thank God for his life and pray for good health in the service of our nation and that he continues to age with grace. I wish him the best. He represents us all and we owe him prayers and cooperation where necessary, just as we also need to criticize him too where necessary.
“I am not a fan of an old man and this is not personal and peculiar to President Buhari. We need an agile president come 2019. We need somebody that is experienced and agile. He shouldn’t contest and the decision is his and his party. But that is not going to stop me and my party from taking over from him and his party come 2019,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the President on his birthday. He noted that under his leadership, a new Nigeria is emerging.
“We attest that under his leadership, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is building a new Nigeria for our progress, peace, unity and prosperity; restoring our country to its deserved standing among the comity of progressive nations; fighting corruption and repairing our value system; diversifying our economic revenue base, creating jobs and economic opportunities for Nigerians; bringing succor to the insurgency-ravaged North-East; reforming the oil, defence, pensions, and other critical sectors and creating a world-class transport system, among others”.
