‘In a nation of few legends, our children are looking up to you’, parents to Buhari

Parents of some of President Muhammadu Buhari’s youngest fans told him Monday that children were looking up to him as a model to pattern their lives after.

According to a statement by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the parents spoke while responding to president’s gesture of receiving three of his young admirers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The girls were said to have shown keen interest in Buhari’s administration and had also prayed for his recovery while he battled ill-health on a medical vacation in London.

Three-year-old Maya Jammal became something of an internet sensation when her video-recorded prayer for the President’s recovery went viral, while 10-year-old Aisha Aliyu Gebbi wrote a personal letter to Buhari describing herself as his “biggest fan”.

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

“I am very impressed with 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”, Buhari was quoted as saying.

Buhari attributed his victory at the polls to contributions from good-hearted Nigerians like young Nicole, who is from Lagos State, for showing her support by sending him her personal savings.

Read also: KADUNA: After failing Pri 4 exam, teachers set to begin 3-day fast to prevent mass sack

“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.

The president told Aisha that her letter was heart-warming, noting that he felt re-assured knowing he had fans among 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 added.

Speaking on behalf of the parents, Aliyu 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.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now