President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, officially declared to contest for a second term at the National Executive Council meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC). PAUL OKAH seeks the opinions of some Nigerians on the development.
Joke of the century It is said that one good turn deserves another, but in the case of PMB, whose performance is the worst that has ever been recorded in Nigeria since 1999, one bad turn deserves an exit gate. President Buhari gave Nigerians a heavy shock by declaring his intention to run again for the Presidency come 2019, despite the level of poor performance that has put Nigeria in its pitiful state.
It is on record that before his election in 2015, he promised Nigerians that he will only run for one term. So, I am surprised at the volteface and his declaration of intention on Monday. By evaluation of his performance so far, he shouldn’t have dreamt of contesting, because Nigerians are completely fed up with him.
In fact, many things went wrong under his watch. For instance, with Buhari at the helm of affairs since 2015, our currency became useless; life became miserable for Nigerians and the budget went missing. And when found, it was obviously padded.
Therefore, his decision is the greatest joke of the year, because he has not achieved anything. Mfongobong Okon, a hairdresser.
We deserve a change I am not surprised at the president’s decision, because power intoxicates. He obviously wants to go the way of many corrupt African leaders who would like to do anything to remain in power for as long as possible. But Buhari has not achieved much in his first tenure to warrant being considered for a second tenure. If for anything, he has brought untold hardship to Nigerians. You only have to look around you to see that those benefiting rom his administration are members of the ruling party.
He should rest and let another credible Nigerian take over the mantle of leadership. His age should have been a disqualifying factor on his person. Age is no longer on his side, as it were, so we deserve a change from the APC, for a younger Nigerian with vision to move the nation forward. Rita Ademola, a civil servant.
He doesn’t merit a second tenure Buhari does not deserve a second tenure. Many things are going wrong even in this his first tenure. During the Benue killings earlier this year, he claimed to have no knowledge that the instructions he passed to the IGP were not carried out to the letter. In his administration, animals became part of government, as rats allegedly chased him out of his office in Aso Rock, just as a snake swallowed the #36 billion naira from JAMB scratch card and life of cows were placed above human beings.
There was no single Capital Project that was carried out under him,despite large sums of fund that was passed as budget. In fact, under his watch,dead people were given appointments over the living, even as federal character was not used in the appointment of government officials. Again, innocent Nigerians were killed in the name of Operation Python Dance, while witch-hunting was misinterpreted to be the fight against corruption and blame game became the order of the day. A vote for buhari is a vote against our conscience,non performance apart.Let’s keep party affi liations, religion,ethnicity and tribalism apart and rescue the next generation; whose future is in risk of being completely murdered by President Buhari. Since he has decided to contest, Nigerians should rewrite history by voting out Buhari in 2019. Kelechi Agha, a political scientist.
Buhari should go back to Daura It is obvious that Buhari is no longer in his right mind. No right thinking man would decide to contest for a second tenure, when the people he wants to lead are groaning under the political and economic hardship he is directing. He should ignore the sycophants telling him that all is well in Nigeria and go back to Daura for a rest he does not deserve. Musa Suleiman, a trader. He deserves it, but… There is no doubt that Buhari is still the best option come 2019, due to his achievements.
The only thing that will stop him from being President till 2023 is death and his failure to win his party’s primaries. However, he should retire now that the ovation is loudest. He has fought the good fight and has defeated terrorism and the many ills bedevilling Nigeria before 2015, but even Nelson Mandela refused to return for a second term, despite the clamour by South Africans. Buhari should write his name in gold and hand over the mantle of leadership to another well-meaning Nigerian. Moses Makun, a politician.
Victim of circumstance Since the president took over office, ex presidents, ex generals, top politicians and the whole country have been yelling for him to resign or step down: but his ego wouldn’t let him. A lot was at stake in the president’s declaration for a reelection: ego, the progress of Nigeria, party ambition, etc. If he steps down after his first tenure, it would mean that he is admitting not being capable of ruling this country; therefore proving his critics right.
So, a reelection will shut his critics up. Even if he didn’t want to contest,his party wouldn’t let him be,so he has to also impress his party. There is a big fight between him, his party and his critics, and as the saying goes: when two elephants fight, the ground suffers.Nigerians are suff ring and will continue suffering,except if he loses the election. If he and his party truly have the best interest of this country at heart, then Buhari shouldn’t seek re-election.This great country deserves better. Blaise Ibe,an IT expert.
Selfish people against Buhari Buhari’s decision to contest for a second tenure was expected, irrespective of oppositions, like Obasanjo’s letter and attempts by the PDP to discredit his government. Politically, people may think that Obasanjo means well for Nigeria, whereas he has personal interests. He doesn’t want anyone to surpass his record as the longest serving head of state: ruling both as a military head of state and as a democratically elected leader for a period of eleven years.
So he knows that, apart from Buhari, no one can beat the record. That was the same intention he had when he wrote against Jonathan. A close study shows that those opposing Buhari are the people who have selfish interest. Iheanyi Obasi, a clergyman.