President Buhari celebrates 79th birthday in Turkey

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, marked his 79th birthday in Istanbul, Turkey, where he is currently attending the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey.

In photographs shared by one of his aide, Buhari Sallau, the President is seen in the midst of the Nigerian delegations and other guests cutting his birthday cake which was made in the the Nigerian national colours of green-white-green.

The cake was presented to the President as a surprise by Nigerian delegates who chanted “Happy Birthday, Mr President,” on sighting him.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who spoke on behalf of the delegation and the Ambassador of Nigeria to Turkey, Ismail Yusuf Abba, congratulated the President on the good work he is doing for the country and wished him a happy birthday, many healthy years ahead and the energy to give his best to the nation.

Onyeama noted that the President continues to have a good run with his health, getting better and more active with time.

Shortly after cutting the cake, Buhari went straight to chair a planning meeting with officials in his delegation and thereafter, drove to the Dolmabahce Palace for a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Recep Erdogan.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, also disclosed in a statement titled ‘Here Is How President Buhari Marked His 79th Birthday In Turkey.’

“In response to the tribute on the occasion on behalf of the ministers and the rest of the delegation rendered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, President Buhari said he will put in his best for Nigeria until the last day when in 2023 he hands over to a successor and returns to his farm to tender crops and livestock.

“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.

“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.”