| President Muhammadu Buhari clocked 76 years on Monday, and with just 60 days to the 2019 presidential poll, he asked for more time and prayers to fix Nigeria. |
Buhari spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after the 203-member Guards Brigade held a special parade to honour him.
The parade performance and rendition of birthday songs were adjudged the first elaborate birthday ceremony held for the President since 2015.
Looking ahead, Buhari said he would keep reminding Nigerians about the state he met the country in 2015 and where he had now taken it.
He explained, “We will keep reminding Nigerians about what we have done, how we met the country, what we have been able to do for the time we came in to now with the resources available to us.” Buhari specifically appealed to Nigerians to give him more time and to pray for him. “Nigerians should continue to pray for me and understand my intentions and give me time,” he said, as he switched to Hausa language.
But responding to Buhari’s plea for more time to fix the nation, the Peoples Democratic Party said the job of returning the country to the path of glory would not be given to a man who had been asked to always sleep and rest.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, told said the President should return to his house in Daura, Katsina State, where he said he (President Buhari) should take a deserved rest.
He said, “We don’t have time to waste anymore. The country cannot afford a sleeping President. President Buhari has done what he could do, but unfortunately, his best is not good enough for the country. “He told Nigerians about four years ago that old age would slow him down. I’m not sure he is getting younger since he said that. The same President also said that his doctors had asked him to rest, eat and sleep more. As much as he needs all these, we need to tell him that the country cannot afford such a leader at this critical time when all hands must be on deck"
-Punch