2 019: WHY I DECLARED INTENTIONS NOW, BY PRESIDENT BUHARI

019: WHY I DECLARED INTENTIONS NOW, BY PRESIDENT
BUHARI
President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he
declared his intentions to run for another term in office on
Monday, April 9, 2018, during the National Executive
Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress
(APC).
Receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin
Welby in London Wednesday, President Buhari said:
"I declared before leaving home because Nigerians were
talking too much about whether I would run or not. So, I felt
I should break the ice. We have many things to focus on,
like security, agriculture, economy, anti-corruption, and
many others. We needed to concentrate on them, and
politics should not be a distraction. The majority of
Nigerians appreciate what we are doing, and that is why I
am re-contesting."
The President recounted some successes of the
administration to his guest, with whom he has built a deep
friendship in recent times, and was quite particular about
strides in agriculture.
"We have cut the importation of rice by about 90%, saving
billions of dollars in the process. People who rushed into
petrol money have now gone back to agriculture. Even
professionals have gone back to the land. Nigeria should be
able to feed itself comfortably soon. I am so pleased," the
President said.
On the war against insurgency, he stressed the need for
continuous education of the people, "so that they can be free
from religious manipulation," adding that no true religion
advocates the hurting or killing of the innocent.
Responding to his guest's comment on the clashes between
herdsmen and farmers in different parts of Nigeria, the
President submitted:
"The problem is even older than us. It has always been
there, but now made worse by the influx of armed gunmen
from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African
sub-region. These gunmen were trained and armed by
Muammar Gadaffi of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen
escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them
fighting with Boko Haram. Herdsmen that we used to know
carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way,
but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons. The
problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But
we are working on solutions."
President Buhari lamented that "irresponsible politics" has
been brought into the farmers/herders’ crisis, but assured
that enduring solutions would be found, and justice done to
all concerned.
On Leah Sharibu, the schoolgirl from Dapchi still being held
by insurgents, reportedly because she refused to renounce
her Christian faith, the President said:
"We are managing the matter quietly. Making noise would
not help. We are collecting as much intelligence as possible,
working with the Red Cross and other international
organizations. There are too many fraudulent people
around, who claim they can do this and that. We won't deal
with them. That was how we got the Dapchi girls back, and
the Chibok girls."
Archbishop Welby said it was always a delight to see
President Buhari, "whom I have tremendous respect for,"
adding: "You have my best wishes on your recent decision. I
read your declaration speech. We are neutral as a church,
but we will pray for you. Great statesmen are those who run
for the good of their country. We will be praying for you."
The Archbishop presented President Buhari with a copy of
his recent book, 'Reimagining Britain. Foundations for
Hope.'
FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)