Buhari Takes A Dig At Obasanjo, Says ‘I Won’t Seek 3rd Term’

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he has no plans to seek a third term in office.

He made the statement in reaction to rumours that he will remain in office after his second term expires in 2023.

In a subtle reference at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Buhari in the statement released by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said he is a democrat who would always respect the constitution.

He said unlike the Obasanjo administration, he will not make moves to amend the constitution.

The statement read, “The Presidency wishes to correct internet-based gossip and un-informed media commentary regarding presidential term limits, given credence by so-called support groups, staging street demonstrations asking President Muhammadu Buhari to do a third term.

“There are no circumstances – nor a set of circumstances – under which President Buhari may seek to amend the Constitution regarding the two-term term limit on holding office as President.

“President Buhari intends to serve his full second elected term in office, ending 2023 – and then there shall be a general election in which he will not be a candidate. There is not even the faintest possibility that this will change.

“It is important to note that there was a past attempt to change the constitution to allow for the then incumbent president to stand for a third term. That attempt was wrong, unconstitutional – and rightly rebuffed.”

Recall that Obasanjo’s third term bid collapsed on the floor of the Senate on May 16, 2016, after lawmakers threw out the constitutional amendment bill.

Recall also that Obasanjo in January 2018 warned Buhari against seeking a second term in office.