The government on Wednesday dismissed insinuations that President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted being too old to cope with the demands of his office.
Speaking extempore to a group of Nigerians at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg on Monday evening, he expressed the wish that he had had the opportunity to be president at the time he served as a state governor, aged 33.
“At 72, there is a limit to what I can do,” he told his compatriots, a remark that was gleefully seized upon by sections of the mass media and some politicians to mean he is too old to cope with the demands of his office.
In a press statement on Wednesday, presidential spokesman Femi Adesina described the new Nigeria leader as a man who has, like old wine, merely 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,” he said. “And all these virtues he has brought to the Presidency, to make a difference in our national life.”
The spokesman pointed out that his principal spoke extempore at the occasion, saying he wanted to "speak from the heart." He urged the Nigerian community in the country to be good ambassadors of their country, the unity of which he once fought for in war.
President Buhari assured the Nigerian community that his administration will make a positive impact on the country.
According to the spokesman, “Insecurity as symbolized 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.”
He underlined that at 72, the Buhari persona has not changed, as he remains the simple, honest, incorruptible patriot he has always been.
“And because Nigerians earnestly desired change, that was why they voted for him overwhelmingly at the general elections in March, this year. All the virtues and values of the Buhari persona will be deployed into governance in the weeks and months ahead.”
He added that the Nigerian community in South Africa was enthralled as President Buhari spoke with them, noting how difficult it was for Mr. Buhari to depart the venue as they swarmed around him to shake his hand
“They took his message well,” Mr. Adesina said. “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.