Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that he is looking forward to retiring to his farm come 2023.
This was disclosed by Buhari on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey, where he marked his 79th birthday.
The president, who is in Istanbul for the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, said he would put in his best foot forward for Nigeria until he hands over to a successor.
“I thought that being away from Abuja I will escape these things. The Guards Brigade had written to tell me what they wanted to do on this day. Now here you are doing this far away from home,” Buhari was quoted as saying.
“I look forward to the year 2023 when I finish, to go home to take charge of my farm. Between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people, and carry out my duties as prescribed by the constitution.”
According to Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, the president was greeted by a “surprise lineup of the Nigerian delegation” with a cake decorated in Nigeria”s national colours when he stepped out of his suite for a meeting with officials of his delegation.
Geoffrey Onyema, minister of foreign affairs, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, and Ismail Abba, Nigeria’s ambassador to Turkey, congratulated the president on “the good work he is doing for the country”.