Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has asked his party leadership to give him more time to decide whether or not he will seek re-election in 2019.
President Buhari on Thursday evening told state governors who belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress that he needs time to make a decision.
The governors held a closed door meeting with the President in Abuja. The Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, told reporters the President promised them he would soon address the nation on the matter.
“We discussed so many issues that affect the nation, our party and Mr. President’s ambition to run for the 2019 presidential election, Okorocha said.
“It is the desire of the governors that Mr. President should run for this exalted office given his performance in the last two years. We believe that if he continues, Nigeria will be better for it.
“Anyhow, Mr. President, in his usual manner, has requested that we give him time and that he will address the nation and the caucus of the party very soon.
“So, we should be full of expectations that Mr. President will make officially known to Nigerians his intentions but we hope that his response will be in line with what the governors are thinking,” Okorocha further said.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked President Buhari to quit as he questions his competence to rule Nigeria beyond his current tenure.
Obasanjo in an open letter warned President Buhari against conceiving any idea of seeking re-election.
Last month President Buhari’s special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina is reported by the Punch to have said in an interview that his boss will not seek re-election without considering his state of health as pressure mounts on him to declare his stance on the issue.
The Nigerian leader has not yet declared his intention to seek re-election or not but his supporters are pushing for him to be re-elected.
Buhari who is 75 years has for the larger part of his presidency been plagued by reports of ill-health forcing him out of the country on some occasions to seek medical attention.
Source: Africafeeds.com
