Tag: Aso rock

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received three young admirers in the State House, who have shown high interest in his administration, and prayed for his recovery during ill-health.

They included three-year old Maya Jammal, who became an internet sensation when her videoed prayer for the President’s recovery went viral, and 10 year-old Aisha Aliyu Gebbi, who penned a personal letter to President Buhari describing herself as his “biggest fan’’.

The third person is Nicole Benson, 12 years old, who contributed N5,785 to the President’s campaign in 2015, which was all saved up from her lunch and pocket allowance.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said: “I am very impressed by what the children have been able to do,’’

“I can see Maya is shy. I watched her video where she was praying for my recovery when I was ill.’’ he added

The President attributed his victory at the polls to the contributions of good hearted Nigerians, like young Nicole, who is from Lagos State, and showed her support by sending her personal savings.

“Nicole, I congratulate you, and myself for being here today. Your contribution made a great impact. As you can see, I am here in the Presidential Villa. Thank you,’’ he said.

President Buhari told Aisha that her letter was heart-warming, noting that he felt re-assured knowing he had fans amongst the children.

“Thank you very much for the letter,’’ he said.

The President said he looked forward to more visits from the children.

“I am hoping that it will not be the first and last time we will be meeting while I am here. We will continue to meet even after I have left here.’’ he said

Speaking on behalf of the parents, Hon. Aliyu Ibrahim Gebbi, said the President’s gesture of inviting the children to the Presidential Villa was a dream come true.

Gebbi said the invitation also added to the President’s long standing record of good heartedness and fairness.

“In a nation with few legends and accuracy of truth, we look up to you, Mr. President, and our children are looking up to you,’’ he added.

Maya lives in the FCT, while Aisha came in from Bauchi State.

President Muhammadu Buhari who arrived the country Friday has said the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will continue to work while he takes his rest.

Buhari who disclosed this at his first meeting with  Osinbajo and other ministers in Aso Rock said he deliberately came back towards the weekend.

Below is Buhari’s speech.

“I am pleased that I am back, I am pleased that the Vice President enjoyed this break and he has to do much more this time around. Youth and intellect is squarely behind him, age and purely military experience is behind me. Continue to do the work, Nigeria will continue whether we are here or not and my single most important advise is take education of everybody under your responsibility very seriously, your children our relatives, our constituencies, education education education. We must do more on education.”

He added; “I am deeply grateful to all Nigerians Muslims and Christians alike who have prayed and continue to pray for my good health. This is a testimony that inspite of the hardship being experienced Nigerians support the government in its efforts to tackle our country’s challenges.

“The best way me to pay you all is to rededicate myself to serving you, protecting your interest and keeping your trust. I thank you very much. I feel much better now.

“All I will need is to do further follow ups within some weeks.

“Rather than sending delegations to Abuja to welcome me, May I appeal to our people to continue to pray for the country’s unity, progress and prosperity. I thank you very much and may God bless our country.

“There is a remarkable difference between what happened now and what happened last year.

“When it was getting to Christmas I told the Vice President, I know he has got a church therefore he has to go home. I said ok let us do it turn by
turn, you go for Christmas and the New Year and when you come back I will go.

“He said yes. I suspected he didn’t go home, when he came back, I said ok it will be my turn in some months time. This time around I said we better do the same, I
didn’t know he had the same principles, but for me I feel that I was a little more tired than I probably was in last eighteen months. Whatever the
case , I am very grateful that Nigerians are appreciative of what all of us are doing as a group. I am very pleased with them.

“I am cost conscious and I think the VP knows about the expenditure. So please if you were clever enough reroute your way, say on your official
duties either from US back to Nigeria.

“If was a battle please don’t be too upset. I am very conscious of the economy. I have rested as much as humanly possible, I have received I think the best of treatment I could receive.”