The Borno state governor, Kashim
Shettima, and his Niger State counterpart, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, on
Monday threw their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to
re-contest presidential election in 2019.
They noted that the President
will win as “he is the single kinetic president in Nigeria’s political life
till date”.
Buhari had at the National
Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja on
Monday declared his intention to run for the election. The two governors who
have spoken up are both serving on the platform of the APC.
While Shettima pointed out that
the President has the right of first refusal of the candidature of the party,
Bello stated that the President’s decision has rekindled hope and reassured
Nigerians that the restoration agenda, the war against corruption and enthronement
of good governance for the country will sail safely to coast.
Briefing State House
correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Shettima said “We are fully in
support of his decision and it’s part of democratic culture, traditionally the
president has the right of first refusal of the candidature of their party, so
it’s not something that is unusual or unwarranted or unconstitutional he has
done the right thing, he is going to contest and we are solidly behind him.
On whether the President consulted
with the governors, he said, “He is not under any obligation to consult
governors or anybody; he has been under tremendous pressure to make that
pronouncement so we should heave a sigh of relief since he has finally
announced his intention to contest.
Asked how supportive the
governors will be to the President’s ambition, he said, “We will give him the
kind of support we gave him in 2015.”
On whether the declaration will
constitute a distraction to the government, the Borno governor said “Certainly it
is not distracting government, it will even calm down governance so that people
will concentrate on the real act of governance and deliver the dividends of
democracy.”
On his part, the Niger governor,
in a statement signed by his Coordinator, Media and Publicity, Mr. Jide
Orintunsin, commended the decision of the President, stressing that Buhari’s
pronouncement has rekindled the hope of average Nigerians for a better
tomorrow.
Bello said, “It was so heart
warming when Mr. President today told members of the national executive
committee (NEC) of our great party of his intention to seek re-election. This
is the brightest moment for our country. A moment that has rekindled the hope
of our people. A moment that has reaffirmed that all the good works, the good
initiatives of Mr. President that saw us out of economic recession the country
was plunged into, by mismanagement of past administrations will now be
sustained to take us to the desired enviable position among the community of
nations.
“By this pronouncement, President
Muhammadu Buhari has exhibited a high sense of a good leadership. He has shown
that he listens to the yearnings of millions of Nigerians who called on him to
continue the good work he started since 2015. He would have dashed the hope of teeming
Nigerians, especially the younger ones who are looking up to him, if he has
turned down this call to serve.”
Governor Bello then called on
Nigerians to drum support for the President, declaring that the nation cannot
afford to go back to the dark days of extravagancy and impunity.
“The onus is now on all good and
well meaning Nigerians to rally round our President and ensure that the
reactionary forces of the opposition and agents of doom are not allowed to dash
the much cherished hope we all have in the new emerging Nigeria by doing the
needful during the next general elections.
“We cannot afford to go back to
the dark days of extravagency and impunity. President Muhammadu Buhari has
changed the game, he has brought sanity to governance, the war against
insurgency is nearing logical conclusion and our economy is improving.
Posterity will not forgive us as a people if we allow this golden opportunity
to slip off our hands. Mr. President has declared, we have to do the needful as
a people by supporting him,” he advised.
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Why has comment dried up here?
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Sai Baba!
Chanji Dole!
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This Chanji sweet me Well Well
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No matter how bad this news is, some people will still have something to gain from his declaration. My people use to say that if we are to eat a basin of eba with soup in a groundnut shell, some people will still be satisfied.
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