Nigeria's President celebrates his 79th birthday

The Pesident of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is 79 years old. 

Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, has been President of Nigeria since 2015. He won re-election in 2019 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

He is a retired Nigerian Army Major General and has served as military head of state in Nigeria between 1983 to 1985, after taking power in a military coup d'état. 

He was born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, in Katsina State.

The President who is currently in Turkey, highlighted his thoughts below;

"I had thought that being away from Abuja, I will escape a celebration. The Guards Brigade had written to tell me what they wanted to do on this day. Now here we are, far away in Turkey and I still didn’t escape,” Mr Buhari said in the Facebook post, which appears to be a response he gave at the celebration organised for him in Istanbul.

“Between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people, and carry out my duties as prescribed by the Constitution.

I thank the Almighty God for this day. Now the work continues,” he added.

The President also made it known that he would go home, that is back to Daura, to tend to his farm after completing his tenure in 2023.

The Nigerian president has a ranch in his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State, Nigeria’s North-west.

“I look forward to 2023 when I finish my tenure, to go home to take charge of my farm,” Mr Buhari said on Friday in a Facebook post where he spoke on how he celebrated his birthday.

Mr Buhari is currently in Istanbul, Turkey, for the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey.

He left Abuja, the Nigerian capital for Turkey on Thursday. He’s expected back in Nigeria on Sunday.

The President got a surprise birthday cake, baked and decorated in the National colours, green-white-green, from the Nigerian delegates, who chanted, "Happy birthday, Mr President," as soon as they sighted the President.

The cake cutting moment was shared by Presidential aide Buhari Sallau.