Buhari, an epitome of sacrifice, says Alaafin

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as “a leader with integrity, probity, honesty, and conscience, whose dedication and fortitude has broken leadership handicaps and shown citizens greatness, service, sacrifice, and leadership’’.
He also lauded Buhari for holding and not folding up, face difficulties and work through trials with connected brains.
The monarch stated these on Monday in a message to commemorate the President’s 71st birthday.
 Alaafin who noted that visions make leaders passionate, while thorns
keep them, said one thing which is indisputable about President
Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is the fact that the era of
oligarchy and corruption-ridden governance with contents of the
National Anthem and pledge being turned into mere nominal mouthing had
gone for good.
‘’Until recently, lack of transparency, probity, and accountability in
Nigeria translates into a pandemic, as a vacuum is created by the
absence of effective Nigerian leadership. Changing a Government
peacefully through the ballot box, under which the mass of ordinary
people were unnecessarily and needlessly burdened over the years under
the yoke of massive and pervasive corruption, deliberate oligarchic
mismanagement of abundant natural resources, party political and
ethnic cronyism and abject ineptitude is a feat worthy of
commendation’’.
‘’There are many unresolved problems in Nigeria, but the issue of the
upsurge of corruption is troubling. And the damages it has done to the
polity are astronomical’’.
Oba Adeyemi pointed out that even the cynics and political opponents
cannot be economical with the truth that the track record of the
President and his unassailable commitment to democratic processes
since Constitutional governance in Nigeria since 1999 gives hope that
under his leadership, Nigeria will once more instill the values of
good, and accountable governance not only in Nigeria but will also be
an advocate for those values and norms in the West African
sub-region’’.
 The paramount ruler went further, ‘’the greatest talking point in our
country has been the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that he
would seek a second term in office next year. Desire by any President,
whether positive or negative, should elicit great interest in the
citizenry. The President that should be pitied is the one that says
something, and the people just shrug, unconcernedly. He is of all men
the most miserable. As to be expected, the notice given by President
Buhari has engendered diverse emotions and reactions. The joy has been
kindled in the hearts of many millions’’.
‘’Now, despite the challenges in the country, why is President Buhari
still the man to beat? Some of the challenges in the country are
genuine. Some others are orchestrated by those unpatriotic elements.
Discipline, simplicity, love of country, lack of greed, and a heart
for the poor and downtrodden, which is the realization of the
ephemeral nature of power, and of life itself, remain the hallmark of
President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.’’
Alaafin recalled how President Buhari ruled Nigeria from January 1984
until August 1985, taking charge after a military coup in December
1983, adding that it is a period remembered for a strict campaign
against indiscipline and corruption.
‘’This zero tolerance for corruption and indiscipline is still being
vigorously pursued till today by the same leader, the policy which is
fast re-orientating and changing mindsets of Nigerians against all
forms of undesirable acts that are detrimental to national growth and
development’’, Alaafin stressed.
Oba Adeyemi however prayed God to further endow the President with
divine knowledge, wisdom and good health in the arduous task of
governance and nation-building.