‘I’m proud of my association with you’ — Buhari celebrates Tinubu at 73

Former president Muhammadu Buhari says he is proud of his association with President Bola Tinubu. 

In a statement by Garba Shehu, his media aide, the former president celebrated Tinubu, who clocked 73 on Saturday.

Buhari said “the annals of the country” would be incomplete without the mention of his successor.

The former president said he remains indebted to Tinubu for his contributions to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which won him the presidency for two terms.

Buhari added that APC’s “vision” for Nigeria has not been lost under the Tinubu administration.

“No doubt, the annals of the country will not be complete without bringing into mention, and a recognition of the varied and numerous roles of President Tinubu as an entrepreneur, a party stalwart, a staunch activist, party organiser, party builder, a reliable ally and a serial winner of democratic elections. I am truly proud of my association with the Asiwaju,” the former president said.

“When Nigerians handed the baton of leadership to the APC in 2015, it was a mandate to lay the foundation for a new Nigeria where the poor get opportunities for a better future and I am glad that the vision is not lost. It was a victory of all those who wish the country’s good.”

Earlier this month, Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna, defected from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

El-Rufai accused the current APC leadership of deviating from the ideas the party was founded on. He also claimed that he had consulted Buhari who “blessed” his move away from APC.

In response, Buhari released a statement declaring that he remains a committed member of the ruling APC.