As the battle for the 2019 presidential election gradually becomes more interesting, especially with the recent resignation of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the uncertainty about the future political ambition of President Muhammadu Buhari, who had hitherto had been quiet about it, has become a little clearer.
This is because the President while speaking with members of the Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire, hinted that he will yet again need the votes of Nigerians in future.
Buhari told the gathering of Nigerians that he came to the meeting with their governors because “it may earn another vote for me in the future.”
This is the strongest hint yet from the President that he may seek re-election in 2019, even if it came in the form of a joke. Buhari spoke on Tuesday night in Abidjan where he attended the 5th European Union-African Union (EU-AU) summit.
Apologizing for keeping them waiting, he said he wanted Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom and his Bauchi State counterpart, Mohammed Abubakar to be at the meeting. Buhari said: “First, I want to apologise for keeping you for too long sitting. This is because I insisted on the governors attending this meeting.
This is why I came along with them so that when we are going to meet you, when you are going to meet the rest of Nigerians, if you tell them that their governors were in the company of the President, I think that will be another vote for me in the future. I’m very pleased that they were able to turn up.”
Though the hall erupted in laughter, the undertone was not missed. The president also gave a cryptic message on former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He said: “I also thank our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He has brought me a very beautiful piece of information which I was not aware of it until I sat down and read it this evening (Tuesday night).
Thank you very much for your hard work and I will discuss that paper with you,” he said, without disclosing what the information was about.
There had been rumours that Tinubu might not support the re-election bid of Buhari. Meanwhile, Buhari has said that his decision to back Dr Akinwunmi Adesina to emerge as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) is an indication of his inaugural speech that he belongs to everybody.
During his inauguration on May 29, 2015, Buhari had said that, “I belong to everybody and nobody”. But some critics have said his appointments do not reflect the statement.
Buhari stated this on Wednesday while interacting with the Nigerian community in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. He said: “The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, who forgot to mention that he was serving in the PDP government as minister but all the same I picked him and recommended him for AfDB. Adesina, who is the first Nigerian to head the continental bank, served as a minister in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government.
According to Buhari, he did not consider Adesina’s ties to the former ruling party when he recommended him for the AfDB job. He said, “I think it emphasised what I said during my swearing in that I’m for everybody, I’m for nobody.
As long as you are a Nigerian, be prepared to be on the receiving end from me.” Adesina had earlier expressed gratitude to Buhari for backing him to get the position.
He said Nigeria’s economy gained momentum after the president’s health improved. Adesina said, “Mr. President as you must have noticed, there is a very strong correlation between your health and the economy and when you came back, the economy picked up after that. So we wish you great health so that the economy can continue to pick.
“I also want to congratulate you for the economic growth and recovery plan that you have put in place and the incredible plan that you have put in place to bring the economy out of recession and also in terms of the fact that Nigeria has moved up in the World Bank ease of doing business index.
“I also want to thank you for your leadership on the Boko Haram issue because to draw investments into Nigeria, you absolutely have to have security.
I think that securing our borders is very very important, thanks to your leadership for that. I also thank you for all the efforts you have made in the Lake Chad Basin Area.
“I was with you in Paris where you led the efforts in reviving the Lake Chad Basin. As you know Mr. President, the bank is very strongly behind that. We put in $250 million to support the North-East of Nigeria rebuilding. I know you were criticised for rebuilding but I don’t see anything wrong, if things get destroyed, they have to be rebuilt.”
