President Bola Tinubu on Saturday hailed his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari as a man of “undiluted integrity” as the latter clocks 81.
In a statement on Saturday by his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, the president also recalled Buhari’s service to the nation at various times as military head of state and as elected president.
The president noted Buhari’s record of infrastructural provision, comprising several new international airports, multiple standard-gauge railway lines, new seaport development, dozens of new dams, power stations, oil and gas infrastructure, expressways and mega-bridges.
He added that Buhari also had to his credit the establishment of Nigeria’s first-ever national social investment and protection programme among others.
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He also called to mind the former president’s aggressive push to modernise Nigeria’s defence architecture while working towards import substitution with the empowerment of millions of Nigerian farmers in his progressive initiative to enhance food security.
Tinubu described Buhari as the finest paradigm of sacrifice, devotion, patriotism, and fidelity to the national cause.
“President Buhari is from the rarest phylum of virtuous servant-leaders. He has devoted his life to the service of the nation, even earning himself detention for his patriotism and service to our Fatherland.
“The emergence of leaders like my good friend, Buhari, happens only by divine orchestration. He is a man of absolute and undiluted integrity. His yea is yea, and his nay is nay,” Tinubu said.
While wishing the elder statesman longevity and strength, Tinubu assured Buhari that the hope of a prosperous, peaceful, and progressive Nigeria, which he had always worked for, would not be dashed.
