THE polity was literary balkanised, yesterday, with mixed views from eminent Nigerians on whether or not President Muhammadu Buhari would be supported for re-election in 2019. The Presidency, on Monday, lambasted former member of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Alhaji Buba Galadima, for saying that the people would abandon Buhari if he chose to seek re-election.
In a strong worded statement, the presidency through Malam Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, stated that “suggestions that the masses will desert President Buhari in 2019 are unfounded and utterly ridiculous” because “the masses are solidly behind Buhari because he is not stealing their money and their future.
The President’s enormous goodwill remains ever strong because the people are convinced the President is acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.” Commenting on the issues, leaders were clearly divided with some saying that the permutation for 2019 is early. Those talking about 2019 are shameless – Junaid Mohammed In his reaction, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said: “It is very unfortunate and shameless that a government that is yet to do anything is already talking of 2019.
It is very unfortunate that a party like APC that is fast becoming moribund is already talking of 2019 when they have nothing to show for the four years Nigerians gave them. This development shows they are power-hungry, hypocritical and corruption-ridden.
“This entire 2019 discussion is ridiculous. I believe a government that has performed will rely on its performance before being considered for another four years in office. We are not even in the middle of the four-year term given to them and they are already talking of 2019. This is an unfortunate development and it shows the ineptitude of the government.
For a man that has led us into the worst recession ever and has got nothing to show Nigerians since he assumed office to be talking of 2019, shows how shameless the government can be.” We are waiting to see Nigerians who will support them – Babatope Former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said: “I wish the Buhari administration luck in their wishful thinking. So far so good, I don’t know of anybody who will support them for another term of four years. But we are waiting patiently to see those Nigerians who will support them when people are dying daily of hunger and starvation.’’
It’s too early – Tsav Retired Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said: ”It is too early for anyone to be talking of 2019. However, I think it is his right to express his opinion if he so desires.’’ It’s an insult to Nigerians—Debo Adeniran Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said: ”My impression is that it is too early for people in the Presidency to be making such statement. It was wrongly timed for them to be flying such a kite because I believe that is what they are doing.
The administration has not even settled down, they have not come up with a policy thrust on the economy and they have not engaged in the business of real governance. The statement is an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians. I believe that the President might not have approved such statement by his overzealous aides because I am sure the President has not shown that he is ambitious.”
Let Buhari improve lives of Nigerians – Afenifere The Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, in its reaction, said the President must ensure that the lives of Nigerians are improved. Its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “He (Buhari) has to yet formally declare that he is running for second term beyond the inferences from Garba Shehu’s comments in his response to Buba Galadima.
The constitution guarantees him the right to run for second term but he must ensure that the realities of Nigeria today improve for the better if he wants to exercise that right.” He should take a cue from fallen African leaders – Olapade Agoro National Chairman and former Presidential Candidate of the National Action Council, NAC, Dr Olapade Agoro, said: ”Considering the fact that President Buhari is a complete gentleman and statesman, one will consider the ongoing news running loose that he is considering running the 2019 Presidential race as a mere game plan of his detractors… Although it will not be strange to find any African leader limping in office wanting to stay put, one will be too sorry and sad to find Buhari falling into pit of shame like Idi Amin Dada of Uganda and Mobutu Sese Seko of DRC.” For now, only Buhari can be trusted – Igbokwe Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos State, Engineer Joe Igbokwe said: “Who would have thought that President Buhari will make fellow generals to return their loot and face trials? Who would have thought that the untouchable called judges in Nigeria will be brought down to give account of their stewardship? Who would have thought that a day will come when fraudulent politicians will be forced to return billions? Now, if the truth must be told, President Buhari has no competitor, he is the only man standing for that position in 2019.
We cannot trust any other person for now. He must finish clearing the Augean stable.” We need a leader like him, I will stand by him, – Ndume Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South, said he would support Buhari for second term. “I am behind President Muhammadu Buhari for 2019. Nigeria needs a leader like Buhari, as long as he is contesting in 2019, I stand by him. I urge Nigerians to stand by him; we need a leader that is incorruptible, matured, sincere, transparent and disciplined.
We have an opportunity, we should not bring politics into it, the present recession was not brought by him. We need a leader that has integrity, we need a leader and Buhari is the leader, ” he said Buhari should not be distracted – Alimikhena To Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North, President Buhari has the right to contest in 2019 but it is too early for the presidency to raise such an issue because he would need time to concentrate and work for the country, and must not be distracted from delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
Nigerians ‘ll decide – Ohuabaunwa Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, PDP, Abia North, who noted that the President has the right to contest as a sitting president said however that only God and Nigerians would determine who becomes the President of Nigeria in 2019.
“First and foremost, he is entitled to contest, he is a sitting President; it is his fundamental human right to contest. It is God and the people that will determine who will be the President of Nigeria, he has the right to contest, God and the people will decide who will be the president in 2019,” he said.
Those talking about 2019 are not Buhari’s friends – Senator Owie Former Chief Whip of the Senate and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Rowland Owie said those saying that the President would contest in 2019 were not his friends. “I have said it often and often that presidents and governors once elected in Nigeria, become ‘prisoners of palace jesters’ These jesters take over the Chief Executives and manipulate them.
These are the people who say what the oga wants to hear because truth when said, is bitter. If not palace jestering in action, how can a sane person start talking about President Buhari running or not running election in 2019? These jesters should please allow President Buhari to do for Nigerians what he promised Nigerians in 2015 and for which he was voted into office.”
