Accolades, Backlash As Buhari Declares For 2019 Presidency
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja declared his intention to seek a second term in office.
Mr Buhari made the announcement at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President’s declaration was greeted with mixed reactions.
While some Buhari supporters welcomed the decision, others promised to vote him out.
Alhaji Sidi Ali, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, said, “Buhari has all it takes to re-contest and the decision is a welcome development.
“He is governing well and has the capacity to continue with the good work, and I am sure more good transformations will happen in the country, if he is re-elected,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto.
Malam Kasimu Chiyama, Chairman Dadin Kowa Youth Association in Kwannawa, Sokoto state expressed joy over the announcement.
“We will support him fully because he is the only candidate that has been good to Nigerians.”
Alhaji Balarabe Musa, chieftain of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), who welcomed the declaration, said his party would come up with a strong candidate to challenge Buhari in the elections.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is welcome on board, but we want to assure Nigerians that the PRP has a presidential candidate to field in the 2019 general elections,” he said.
Similarly, Reno Omokri, aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, said in a tweet that President Buhari knew his declaration was unpopular to Nigerians, which was why he ran to the United Kingdom, shortly after the announcement.
It is a good thing that it was @Elrufai who announced President @MBuhari‘s second term because his chances of re-election is as tall as Elrufai. A man whose supporters can’t declare one thing he has initiated and completed has declared us all fools by this 2nd term declaration.
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 9, 2018
Since Buhari hasn’t initiated and completed even one project as #BuhariChallenge proves, I urge him to use 2019 election to redeem himself. Initiate and complete a free election and give Nigerians the opportunity to fulfill their desire to retire you from politics next February!
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 9, 2018
The man knew that his 2nd term declaration is unpopular, unpleasant and unpalatable to the vast majority of Nigerians which is why he ran away to London as soon as he announced the news. One would have thought he is contesting for @Theresa_May’s job the way he dashes to the UK.
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 9, 2018
Also, Former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, described 2019 as the year to end the reign of a decadent political class.
She said President Buhari should “recover” from his first tenure before embarking on another.
Reading the Breaking News that our President will be seeking reelection in 2019, I remembered the story of the “Ejionu” masquerade.
Our President has not yet recovered from his first journey and here he is UNLIKE the very wise Ejionu, seeking to embark on a second one. Hmmm.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) April 9, 2018
The very nice thing about the “Breaking News” is that at least Citizens now officially know that it is to .@NGRPresident @MBuhari that WE shall personally hand APC’s own portion of the #RedCardToAPCAndPDP.
2019 is SURELY the #YearofTheOfficeOfTheCitizen#NewNigeriaOfOurDream.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) April 9, 2018
1959 Elections ushered in Independent Nigeria.
1979 Elections ushered in Democracy after civil war & military rule.
1999 Elections ushered in Democracy after another decade & half of military rule.
2019 Elections will END THE REIGN OF A DECADENT POLITICAL CLASS.#MarkMyWord
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) April 9, 2018