2019: Reactions continue to trail President Buhari’s declaration
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday formally announced that he will seek re-election in 2019. Since the declaration on Monday, reactions have been trailing the decision.
He made the announcement at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Abuja on Monday.
Though there has been a lot of speculation that he would contest against for presidency of the most populous country in Africa, Monday declaration was his first public announcement on the matter.
Buhari took office on May 29, 2015 after defeating then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election of that year.
One of his major backers in that election, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in January advised him to drop his re-election bid, saying his administration had been a monumental failure.
The Northern Elders Forum also expressed its reluctance to back him in the coming election, saying he had so far failed to impress.
However, most of the governors elected on the platform of his party, APC have repeatedly called on him to seek re-election.
2019: Let the others simply run away – Femi Adesina
In the wake of President Buhari’s declared intention to seek a second term in office, his presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina has warned all other presidential aspirants to stay away.
Adesina took to his Facebook page to issue the warning. He stated that there were only two options for presidential aspirants and it was for them to “run or run away.”
“There are two options for those in contention for the presidency in 2019: run, or run away.”
He continued, “Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated his intention to run, dwarfs trying to wear a giant’s shoes should simply run away. The cat has returned from a journey, let the rats scamper for safety.
“Show clean pairs of heels? But this is a democracy! Everybody is free to run in the direction he or she fancies. True. So, what I’ve said is mere advice, which they can take, or choose not to take. Nigerians will decide early next year. The greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory.
“I have always said it privately and in public. If President Muhammadu Buhari decides to run for a second term in 2019, I would support him. It doesn’t matter whether I am in government or not. For some of us, the man Buhari is a conviction, a resolution, a man to admire and adore since 1984, when he became military head of state.
Is he perfect? Show me the man who is. Is he running a perfect government? Show me the government which is. Is he sincere? Very. Does he love the country? Dearly. Will he take Nigeria to the Promised Land? As the good Lord helps. And he is on the way there. Does he need more time? Sure, he does. The rot was too much, benumbing.
“Nigeria is doing a lot more with a lot less today. There was a time we were awash with money. Oil sold for as high as $120 dollars per barrel, and we produced up to two million barrels per day. For many years. But we had no roads, no electricity, no health care, no security, nothing. The money was simply looted. They sat round the table, as if gathered for lunch, and hundreds of billions of dollars were shared.
“Now, after oil prices crashed to as low as 30 dollars per barrel in 2015, and currently oscillates between 50 and 60 dollars, Nigeria is doing great things. Electricity has been taken to over 7,000 megawatts, from the inherited 3,000. The economy is now being truly diversified, after five decades of lip service. Agriculture is now the second biggest thing after oil, and is poised to become number one in the not too distant future. Farmers, in their millions, now smile to the banks. The farmer is now king. He sends himself on pilgrimage to Mecca or Jerusalem, paying his own way. Those who want more wives among them have even taken. And not on credit. Lol.
“With income standing at about 60% less than what we used to earn, N1.3 trillion was spent on capital in 2016. The 2017 budget will close with about the same amount being expended on capital projects. Simply because you have a honest man in leadership. Not that corruption has been wiped out, no, but it has been drastically curbed. And anyone serving with the man knows that stealing is now corruption. When fish rots, it starts from the head. But we now have a head that shows the way. Mai Gaskiya. The Honest Man. Shine the light, and people will find the way.
“How about our foreign reserves? They say we should stop talking about the past, and simply face the future. So that Nigerians would not be reminded of how they ran the country into a hole? With oil at its highest prices for many years, what they left in foreign reserves was a miserly $29.6 billion. It dropped to as low as $24 billion about a year ago, because of collapsed oil prices. But then, by divine mercies, prices began to inch up in the international market. It reached $60 per barrel, just about half of what they earned for many years. We cut unbridled importation of what can be produced locally. Prudence became the watchword. And foreign reserves now stand at over $46 billion. Why? Simply because the money is not being pocketed by those in power, as it once happened.
“And then, some voodoo priests came: don’t run for a second term. Give way to younger people. Take a well deserved rest. Blah blah blah. As if they were the beginning and end of democracy. The motive was simple: we must dissuade this man from running, so that he wouldn’t become the greatest ever Nigerian leader. He must not become the authentic national hero. All types of cards were being flashed, yellow, green, red, purple, as if they had become emergency referees. But President Buhari kept his peace. No abuse for abuse, no railing for railing. When you are in the marketplace, you concentrate on the person you are transacting a deal with, and ignore the noise of the market. Now, the Tower of Babel has been resoundingly ignored, and democracy will be the victor.
“Early next year, Nigerians will decide what they want. Go ahead on the journey to Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, or go back to Egypt, a land of eternal bondage, and excruciating pains? Nigerians will do it again. They will freely elect the leader they want, without pandering to ethnic, religious, and other primordial sentiments being currently whipped up. There will be no doomsday, as the election will be free and fair. No wuru-wuru or mago-mago under Buhari’s watch, no matter what. A man that swears to his own hurt.
“Nigerians, President Buhari is on the march again. For the sake of our tomorrow and the ages to come, for the sake of our children and generations yet unborn, let’s do it again.”
Nigeria does not need Buhari in 2019, he will kill Nigeria ―Fayose
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has said Nigeria does not need President Muhammadu Buhari as her leader in 2019, noting that Monday’s declaration of re-election bid by the President is an ambition that is dead on arrival.
The governor also noted that if Buhari is re-elected, he would kill the country.
Fayose, who spoke to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday on the President’s intention, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said if Buhari was unable to read the handwriting on the wall and know when to call it quit, Nigerians would show him the exit door in 2019 by voting him out of office.
Fayose opined that Buhari was not only too old to lead the country well, he had bungled the opportunity given him by his woeful performance.
“That ambition is dead on arrival. We don’t want grandpa as president anymore. Nigeria does not deserve a Buhari as president in 2019. Buhari is old and tired. When people don’t know when to take their leave and say bye, Nigerians will show them the exit door.
”He has done more harm to this country. His ambition is a means by which Nigerians will tell him good riddance to bad rubbish when they boot him out of office. He is an easy candidate to defeat in the poll for he has failed woefully.
“He has failed in all fronts. He has failed in his so-called fight against corruption, he has failed in the economic front. He has not done well in term of security. People are being killed in large number daily and Nigerians have no confidence in him.
”His declaration today is a slap on Nigerians in the face of what Nigerians are passing through. His government is not only clueless, but in a shambles. He should go home and rest, ” he said.
No better choice to Buhari for now, says Gov. Masari
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, homestate of President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown weight behind the candidature of their son saying there is no better choice to lead the nation for now than President Buhari.
Governor Masari Governor Masari stated this in a statement through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi reacting to the President’s declaration of intention to re-contest in 2019.
The Governor said Buhari’s decision to seek for re-election in 2019 reaffirmed the President’s love for Nigeria. Governor Masari said that it was now up to patriotic Nigerians to make sure that the President’s re-election comes to pass.
The statement reads: “we owe ourselves the duty to ensure that President Buhari continues beyond 2019, so that he could consolidate on the achievements so far recorded under his watch.
“We will pull out all the stops, leaving nothing to chance in our efforts to ensure that Katsina state gives the President the highest votes in 2019.
“I congratulate us (Nigerians) for this wonderful news of the President’s declaration to go for re-election in 2019, because there is no one better than him for the office, for now,” Governor Masari said.
2019 declaration: Buhari ‘ll tell us what he has achieved – Uwazuike
Former President of Aka Ikenga, the punching arm of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Goddy Uwazuike, has challenged President Mohammadu Buhari to tell Nigerians what he has achieved to merit re-election in 2019.
Uwazuruike made this demand following the president’s declaration in Abuja on Monday to re-contest. Reacting to the declaration, the former Ohaneze scribe who is also a legal practitioner queried if Buhari had delivered on his campaign promises in 2015 to seek the renewal of his mandate from Nigerians.
He however acknowledged that it was his right under the constitution to contest election but submitting that the president has some explanations to make.
He said: “The constitution guarantees the right to contest for elections. The contestant makes some basic promises. But the basis for re-contesting is to continue the good work. In other words, President Muhammadu Buhari will tell us what he has achieved!
“He listed 3 major areas: corruption, security and the economy. He should tell us where his achievements lie in the 3 areas. He can say I have fought corruption with fear or favour.
“That the charges of nepotism and cover up of corruption against his men are not true. He should tell us that the insecurity we felt before has been eliminated. The people are free to go anywhere. No Boko Haram. No Fulani killers, no banditry, no kidnapping.
“He should tell us how our economy is better off now that a bag of rice and a litre of petrol have doubled. In fact our medical services have improved. The children of top politicians school here.
“The promises made to the labour union have been kept. The Independence of the judiciary and the legislature is fully and firmly respected. He must tell us how human rights are respected, how court orders are obeyed. The president has to tell us how investors are trooping in and where they are now. He must tell us how factories are reopening. Freedom of speech? Hate speech? IPOB?”
Shehu Sani reacts to Buhari’s decision to seek second term
Shehu Sani, Senator representing Kaduna Central District in the National Assembly has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s intention to seek a second term.
The president gave the indication during a closed-door meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
Buhari said he was responding to the clamour by Nigerians to re-contest in 2019, adding that he wanted to give NEC the honour of notifying them first.
Reacting to the declaration, Sani, in a tweet wrote. ”Now that Baba decided not to be a Mandela, we hope he become a Deng Xioping and not Augustus Pinochet Agarte.”
Buhari’s declaration: Patriotic response to the clarion call of Nigerians – Okorocha
Says, APC has no apology to make
Imo State Governor and Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration for second term, could be adjudged a patriotic response to the clarion call of Nigerians of goodwill for him to lead the country for another four years.
The governor noted too that the declaration of the President to go for Second tenure would also go a long way to reduce the noise of the opposition and take care of the idiosyncrasies of certain elements in the system.
He said the President has done well to deserve second tenure and remarked that those who had wanted to blackmail him out of going for another term can now find other meaningful things to keep themselves busy.
He expressed optimism that the President would largely garner more votes in 2019 than he had done in 2015 because most Nigerians, including people of the South-East have seen that he meant well for the nation and her citizenry.
The governor said the APC has no apology to make because it has done wonderfully well considering the magnitude of the rot it met on ground in 2015 and noted that the antenna of the opposition in the country will finally be lowered when the campaigns begin and the Party will be showing Nigerians its achievements in the States under its control and at the federal level.
The governor said when a political party had admitted that the government it ran was a huge failure and then apologized, such scenario goes with restitution and not with reward. He urged APC members across the nation to close ranks for the victory of the Party at all levels in 2019.
What Buhari’s declaration for second term will do to Nigeria – Iriase
Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Pally Iriase, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to re-contest in 2019 general election as a welcome development.
Iriase said that the declaration would rekindle investor’s confidence in the economy of the nation.
The federal lawmaker also stated that despite the perceived shortcomings of the administration, the president was still focused and determined to reposition the country.
He said: “Mr President’s declaration is a welcome development and it is going to have salutary effect on the economy, because every investor wants to know the way forward.
“One thing that is very clear about this President is that no matter what anybody will have against him, he is very focused and very passionate about repositioning Nigeria.
“His single fight against corruption is what Nigerians must commend. Within the limited resources available, he has been able to show that Nigeria can develop and work because not many are aware about the huge infrastructural development that is ongoing all over the country, roads are receiving attention, the rail system is receiving attention, the airports are receiving, even the power problem is receiving consistent attention.
“This shows the serious mindedness of a President that wants to turn things around for the betterment of Nigeria, he came in at a time when things have gotten so bad and he has since jettisoned the easy escape route of blame game and he has settled down to work.
“It took him quite a while to settle down because of the rot he met, but now we can see that he has found his ways on how to achieve sustainable development for Nigeria”.
Pastor Tunde Bakare speaks on Buhari’s re-election bid
Founder and Senior Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has reacted to the declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari to contest for Presidency come 2019 election.
Reacting to the new development, Bakare, speaking to Daily Sun said he would support Buhari’s re-election bid if he (the president) canvassed for his support.
According to him, Buhari has every constitutional right to seek re-election.
Bakare said “I would support Buhari If he canvasses for my support.
“It was the President’s prerogative to seek re-election, nothing forbade the President constitutionally from seeking re-election.”
Bakare, speaking on whether he would cast his vote for the President during the election, said “It is a secret vote, for that it remains my secret.”
Bakare further warned Nigerian to be careful, even as the 2019 election drew near.
He urged Nigerians not to confuse ‘electrocacy’ with ‘democracy.’
CNPP reacts to Buhari’s decision to seek second term
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s intention to seek a second term.
The group said Buhari had nothing to show Nigerians, in terms of concrete achievement, to make him think of seeking re-election.
In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the group maintained that Nigeria should be thinking of electing a patriotic politician who understands economic dynamics and inclusive governance.
The statement read, “It is disappointing that the President will choose to declare for a second term at when the security of lives and property of Nigerians cannot be guaranteed.
“The President’s declaration of intention to run at this time is the height of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians who are suffering under his administration as he has nothing concrete in terms of achievement to show Nigerians.
“Today, we can count businesses that have either collapsed or are operating under the worst economic condition in history of our dear country, with no single high profile conviction in his so-called anti-corruption war in three years.
“His anti-corruption campaign has obviously be turned into a blackmailing tool aimed at painting one political party black, while anyone accused of corruption that joins the All Progressives Congress (APC) automatically becomes a saint and must be protected to enjoy his loot. That is not war against corruption.
“Nigerians at this time should be moving with the global tide by thinking of electing a successful patriotic man or woman as President.
“Re-electing the incumbent is to vote for continuity of failure as the first term in the office is usually the time to win the confidence of the electorate but Mr President has performed so woefully in security, nation building, provision of infrastructure, employment generation, name it to seek re-election. His government has failed all-round.
“We, as Nigerians, have experimented enough in the last three years. The hungry and jobless citizens can no longer endure, and cannot afford to see another four years of this failed administration after 2019.”
2019: Buhari’s declaration a launching-pad for Nigeria’s prosperity – Enugu BSO
The Buhari Support Group, Enugu State chapter, on Monday hailed the President’s decision to seek renewal of his mandate in 2019.
BSO described Buhari’s decision as a launching-pad for the progress and prosperity of Nigeria.
The President had at a closed-door meeting of the National Executive Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), put to rest speculations about his political future.
The President said he was responding to the clamour by Nigerians to re-contest in 2019, adding that he wanted to give the NEC the honour of notifying them first.
Shortly before making the declaration, the President presented a speech on the report submitted by the APC National Executive Technical Committee.
Reacting, the Enugu BSO said in a statement signed by its chairman, Chief Anike Nwoga, that Buhari’s open declaration “is a launching pad for the progress and prosperity of our dear fatherland, a country whose growth has been stunted by infrastructure deficit.”
Nwoga stated that “our celebration is not only because he has paged and reaffirmed the ardent appeal which Nigerian compatriots had canvassed long time ago; but for the truism that his 2nd Term will consolidate the critical and massive infrastructural foundation he is laying.
“BSO Enugu State Chapter rates the Buhari’s Roads,Rails, Agric and Power (RRAP) Projects as the most massive infrastructural development in the annals of the history of Nigeria, ever embarked by one regime. The Buhari’s RRAP Projects of 3-5 years completion cycle, comprises of 5,000 kilometers federal roads, 5,000 kilometers standard gauge rail lines, agrarian revolution and additional 5,000 megawatts of electricity.”
“For the avoidance of doubt we were anxious and apprehensive and we understand that the international community, friends of Nigeria and foreign investors were apprehensive as well. We can now state that all are relieved with his 2nd Term declaration, which will guarantee the consolidation of the RRAP Projects, a veritable template for sustainable economic development in Nigeria,” he further stated.
Second Term: Buhari has right to contest – APGA, IPAC
National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Victor Oye, said President Muhammadu Buhari was qualified to present himself for re-election.
Oye, in a statement in Awka on Monday said as a Nigerian, Buhari had the constitutional right to seek another term in office.
“He is qualified, so, we have no problem with his declaration to run for second term.”
Similarly, Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Anambra, Chief Bartho Igwedibia, said it was inalienable right of Buhari to seek re-election if he wished.
Igwedibia said only the Nigerian masses had the final say on who would preside over their affair.
He called for free and credible elections that would yield outcome reflecting the wishes of the people.
“The Constitution of Nigeria guarantees two terms for all elected political office holders; so Buhari is qualified to enjoy that right.
“There is nothing wrong with his declaration and there is nothing special about it, too.
“Nigerians are the people that have the ultimate say on who will lead them; every person, including myself, can declare but the people will speak with their votes.
“Nobody should stop anybody; my take is that voter awareness should be intensified and people should get their Permanent Voter Cards in order to speak with their votes.
“All we want is free and fair election where people can vote and their votes should count,” he said.
