Femi Adesina, who was Special Adviser Media to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has spoken about his service to a man he admires, respects, and why he thinks his principal left Nigeria better than he met it.

He said working with the President as his Special Adviser on Media was the experience of a lifetime, adding that “then I was a Nigerian journalist just like you, and then I got picked.”

He said as the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Managing Director of a newspaper and a senior journalist je was still a journalist, adding that “I was at your level at the time. I grew in the profession to the glory of God, and you will also grow. So there I was, practicing and enjoying my profession and then I got invited to serve the President. If you get invited out of 200 million Nigerians to serve your country and your president, it can only be a good thing. Even though I was not inclined to serve in government, I didn’t think I wanted it and neither did I think it would happen.

“But when the invitation came, I had no objection and no other option than to accept it because, if I didn’t, I would not have been selling candidate Muhammadu Buhari since 2003 when he began to run for President. Then he won in 2015. If I had said no, that meant I had been selling a fake product. So, I had to come into government to support a man I had always believed in. Eight years after, I still believe in him and I will believe in him till the end of time,´ he insisted

And on why he has engaged less since May 29, 2023, he said “I was busy writing my memoir, and it was recently released to the public. It is titled, Working with Buhari. Reflections of a Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, 2015-2023. I’ve been a private person since May 29 last year when we left government. And I’m satisfied with it. If I had my way, I would even delete all my social media accounts. I used all those platforms to serve my principal. I’ve not said I will do it, but I may.

“I know one of our Ministers, a former Governor. They opened fire on him on social media for about five days. When I saw him, I asked him if he saw all they were writing against him. He said, ‘for where, I have deleted all my social media accounts.’ So, I may end up copying that former Governor and Minister, if it continues to be a mad house.

Speaking on the highs and lows of being the Special Adviser on media to the President, he said “There is nothing you get involved with in life that would not have its upsides, downsides, high points, and low points. If I want to say it was all rosy in the eight years, then I’ll be telling you lies. There were downsides and upsides. But I would say the high points were more than the low points. For me, the low points would be when there were trenchant criticisms of the former president and I know that they are not correct.

“But the critics will never listen. For me, it constituted a low point. There were also periods of personal attacks. They would say we can’t get to the President, but we can get to his aide, so they called me all sorts of names and threw all sorts of things at me. Once in a while, I threw some back, and once in a while, I absorbed them. Peter Tosh in his song said, if you live in a glass house, don’t throw stones, and if you can’t take blows, don’t throw blows. Some people throw stones and don’t want any stone thrown back at them. Once in a while, I threw stones at them, and they began to shout. Anybody that threw stones at me and I thought deserved stones to be thrown back at them, I did, which was not my usual style. Once in a while, I did. So, I had no regrets about that.

“Talking of the high points, I served a man I truly admire, respect and love. The Bible says love covers multitude of sins. For me, the opportunity to serve Nigeria and President Buhari was chance of a lifetime. I’m glad the opportunity came and I took it. Though I wasn’t inclined to it, I’m glad I took it and I have no regrets. (Story adapted from THISDAY)

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