Reporters Diary@ITRealms:
On Monday evening, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke with the
Nigerian community at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Speaking extempore, because according to him, he wanted to
"speak from the heart," the President urged them to be good
ambassadors of Nigeria, a country he went to the warfront to keep together.
Still extolling the virtues of our country, Nigeria, 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 reassured the Nigerian community in South
Africa that his Administration will make a
positive impact on the country. He will ensure that this happens.
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.
At 72, the Buhari persona has not changed. 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.
The Nigerian community in South Africa was enthralled as
President Buhari spoke with them on Monday. In fact, leaving the venue was an
effort, as they swarmed round the President, who shook hands with as many of
them as he could.
They took his message well. 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.
FEMI ADESINA is the Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity.
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