Buhari laments old age as Adesina compares him with Abacha

Nigerian Presidential media adviser, Femi Adesina, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is not like the late Head of State, Sani Abacha.

In an article on Thursday, “PMB and The Futurologists”, the spokesman mocked the then military ruler for refusing to leave Aso Rock because he was scared of prophetic visions and predictions.

Adesina disclosed that a cleric told Buhari to send emissaries to him with bags of money, so he could pray and stave off the tragedy.

Noting that the President was busy with international travels at the period the ‘prophet’ mentioned, no accident or incident happened.

“That was what the marabouts did to Sani Abacha, that he remained holed in Aso Rock. Between November 1993 and June 1998 that he was head of state, you could count both local and foreign trips he made on the fingers of one hand.

Adesina recalled that there was a time plenty of hype had been made on his visit to Oyo State, to commission the Asejire Water Scheme.

The aide said the state was agog with expectations, and a holiday had been declared, only for Abacha not to show up, after being “caged by the futurologists”.

“At another time, he had been confirmed to visit Lagos, to commission projects, including the Marwa Gardens, in Alausa area of Ikeja.”

“Visiting Lagos would have been good for Abacha himself. The city had been put under lockdown. At the last minute, Abacha refused to show up. Caged again by the horizon scanners, who always see negative, never anything positive.

“It was said that in the few times the head of state ventured out of the fortress called Aso Rock, he would lock up all the Service Chiefs at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, until he returned”, the essay read.

Meanwhile, as the last lap of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration draws close, the President has for the first time admitted that old age is telling on him.

The President took to an exclusive interview on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Thursday to make his observation, blaming part of it on the outbreak of COVID-19 and the rigours of managing the affairs of the nation.

Buttressing his claims, Buhari said the outbreak of COVID-19 greatly reduced the number of persons he receives on a daily basis at the Presidential Villa.

Buhari said he was not in a position to complain because he asked for the job of presiding over the affairs of the country.

“I think that COVID-19 came to my rescue in the sense that the number of people that need to see you can’t see you. That really gives you more time.

“Regarding my age, I see my colleagues, they are now resting and I assure you that I’m looking forward to the next 17 months when I too will have to be less busy. The age is telling on me, working now for 6, 7, 8 hours per day in the office is no joke.

“The Executive Council, memos from as many states as possible to be considered virtually every week. So, really, it is a lot of hard work but like I said, I asked for it so I cannot complain”.