Presidential hopeful and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has said Buhari's leadership came at a difficult time, yet he was able to do his best toward ensuring the country still manages to survive.
Tinubu stated this in a congratulatory statement to Buhari who marked his 79th birthday with the cutting of a cake in Istanbul, Turkey, where he is to participate in the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He said, “Your legacy as a great reformer and democrat will live long into the future. You are a man of high intellect and exceptional character.
“Your tenure in office has coincided with some of the most difficult and challenging times this country and, indeed, the entire global community has faced.
“Economic crises, global pandemics, insecurity and criminality have all played a role in making the past few years difficult for the people of our great country.
“Yet, despite it all, you continue, calmly and with uncommon dignity, to steer the ship of Nigeria through the most turbulent of waters.”
While it is normal for political leaders to wish each other well on special occasions, this however doesn't suggest all is well between Buhari and Tinubu whom reports claims may likely dump the All Progressives Congress (APC), should he fail to clinch the party's presidential ticket in next year's primary.
Tinubu's hope of becoming Buhari's successor in 2023, is believed to be heavily tied to Buhari whom he expects to reciprocate the support he enjoyed from Tinubu during the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.
But Buhari is believed to be unwilling to use his influence to help Tinubu with his ambition.
“You cannot sit there in Lagos, for instance, and decide the fate of APC on zoning. Therefore we should allow the party to decide,” Buhari said during an interview with Arise Television back in June 10, 2021.
Tinubu also became the subject of criticism over his recent comment where he expresses willingness to pick a Muslim running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
“All I need is your support. Leave the rest to me, I will handle it,” he was quoted as saying while soliciting for support from Northern leaders in the past week.