Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has on Thursday said, contrary to widespread belief, Muhammadu Buhari is not a stingy man.
Adesina recalled when Buhari on one occasion handed him an envelope filled with foreign currency when he was billed to attend a course in China.
He also said President Buhari at another time sponsored his family on a trip to the South-East when he was honored with a chieftaincy title.
Adesina made all these known in a birthday tribute in honor of President on his 78th birthday, titled, ‘Buhari at 78: If Only We Knew the President’.
The presidential aide said he would not get bored talking about the kind of person Buhari is, since many people have chosen to believe wrong things about the president.
He emphasized the president is a generous man who has granted him monetary favours at different times.
The presidential aide expressed;
A kind man. I have lots of stories to tell, but let me restrict myself to a few. In December 2015, I had lost my elder sister, a Professor of Dramatic Arts, in an auto crash. While I was crying like a wailing wailer, who was on the phone, consoling and condoling with me? Muhammadu Buhari.
And before he became President, when my mother passed on in 2013, and we had a commendation service for her in Lagos, who flew in all the way from Kaduna to attend? Muhammadu Buhari. He sat through the Christian service. Yet, they say he’s a bigot. I hear. Bigot from Sudan.
He added;
And in January 2017, I was to receive the traditional title of Nwanne di Namba of Mmaku Kingdom, in Enugu State. Courtesy demanded I tell the President. This man, who prides himself as ‘very stingy’ gave me a handsome amount of money to ferry my friends and family to the ceremony. How much? I won’t tell you, lest you ask for a belated share.
And in May 2018, I was billed for China for a 12 days course for senior government officials from Africa. He said when the journey was two days away, I should come to see him. I did. You know what he said? ‘Adesina, I know that you don’t have money. But you are too shy to ask.’ We both laughed, and he gave me an envelope which contained foreign currency. How much? You think I’ll tell you? For where?
Adesina said while some people call Buhari a religious bigot, the president’s actions have shown otherwise.
In his birthday message to Buhari, he dismissed reports that one Jubril from Sudan was impersonating Buhari while the real President was dead.
He said Buhari’s memory was still very good as he remembered several events that occurred during the Nigerian civil war in the 1960s.
Adesina then wished President Muhammadu Buhari a happy 78th birthday.
