President Muhammadu Buhari has reneged on the promise that he would only do a single term while canvasing for votes ahead of the 2011 general elections.
Mr. Buhari, who was fielding questions from the Trust Newspaper Editor, Theophilus Abbah, had insisted he would not contemplate the constitutional two terms because of his age.
The president had also promised he would not challenge the outcome of the 2011 polls if he does not get elected.
“Having been in court for 50 months between 2003 and 2008, if I’m rigged out again, I will not go to court,” Mr. Buhari had said.
“I will leave the party to deal with the case. The CPC (Congress for Progressive Change) can, but I, as the presidential candidate, I’ve made up my mind never to go to court again on that issue.
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However, when Mr. Abbah asked why he said he would run for a single term if elected president, Mr. Buhari had responded, “I’m not getting younger. If I succeed and do one term, I will be 73 years old.”
But about eight years after the epochal promise, Mr. Buhari has gone back on his words and has officially declared to run for a second term in 2019.
The declaration was made through President Buhari’s official Tweeter account after he was said to have told leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of his intention to fly the party’s flag during the next election.
The tweet reads, “President @MBuhari has just announced his intention to seek the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contest for a second term of Office in the 2019 elections.”
Few hours after the tweet surfaced, the Presidency tweeted Mr. Buhari’s departure to Britain, where he will be meeting with the Prime Minister, Theresa May, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Based on the statement released by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the duration of Mr. Buhari’s visit to Britain has not been public.
But the itinerary released by Mr. Shehu shows the president may be away for over one week, a situation which may create a leadership vacuum in the country.
“President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Monday, 9th April for an official visit to Britain where he is due to hold discussions on Nigeria – British relations with Prime Minister Mrs. Theresa May, prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings scheduled for 18th to 20th April, 2018,” the statement reads.
“The president will also meet the chief Executive of Royal Dutch Plc, Mr. Ben van Beurden in connection with Shell and other partners’ plan to invest $15 billion in Nigeria’s oil industry.
“These investment ventures will lay the foundation for the next 20 years production and domestic gas supply, bringing with it all the attendant benefits both to the economy and the wider society.
“President Buhari is due to renew discussions with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, a good friend of the president on inter-religious harmony in Nigeria and world-wide,” Mr. Shehu stated.
