President Major General Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Abuja made a moving statement to a delegation of about 40 children whom he hosted in the Council Chamber of the State House on the occasion of the latest Children’s Day celebration.
The president said he never knew when he was a student that he would one day lead Nigeria twice as a military officer and as a civilian.
Buhari led Nigeria as a military head of state in 1983 and for two terms as a civilian president from 2015 to 2023.
Thus, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu revealed in a statement later in the evening that President Buhari is unveiling his comic book on the seven roles children can play in nation building, titled “How to Make Nigeria Great”.
At the meeting, Mr Buhari, ahead of his departure after 8 years as president, chose to interact with children, the leaders of tomorrow according to him, encouraging them to be good citizens before becoming leaders, councillors, legislators, governors etc.
Mr Buhari told the children that one day the country would be in their hands and that the country was counting on them because they could not import foreigners to run their country.
The former military ruler also stressed the importance of honesty, patriotism and unity in building a peaceful and prosperous nation.
Mr Buhari thanked the children for spending time with him and concluded his speech by reiterating a statement he made some 40 years ago: “I said something in 1984 and I will end this speech by repeating it: ‘We have no other country than Nigeria. We will stay here and save it together”.