Third term controversy: At last, Buhari opens up

Contrary to speculations in some quarters, President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that he would leave after his tenure in 2023, saying the country’s Constitution “does not permit” him to seek a third term in office.

President Buhari, however, urged leaders of the party to dominate their constituencies politically, warning that history would not be fair to them “if the APC collapses” after his tenure in 2023.

Addressing the APC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at its national secretariat in Abuja Friday, the president said anybody office holder of the party “who fails to maintain the respect of his constituents and is thrown out, that is his problem.”

On whether he would relinquish power in 2023, he said, “I am not going to make the mistake of attempting a third term. Beside the age, I swore by the Holy Book that I would go by the Constitution and the Constitution said two terms. I know that I am in my last term and I can afford to be reckless, but I am not going to ask for anybody’s vote.

“Every member of NEC from today should reposition himself or herself to ensure that you have dominated your constituencies politically. The aim is that history will not be fair to us if outrightly if the APC collapses at the end of this term.

“History will be fair to us if APC remains strong and hold the centre and make gains. I want you to read the constitution. I made sure that when the constitution says the election as we did it the last time will start in 18 months time or 20 months time, it is going to be done.”

Speaking on the Presidency’s relationship with the National Assembly, Buhari said: “The executive relationship with the legislature, the National Assembly and I was constrained to tell the caucus meeting yesterday that there was a time I called the Senate President and the leader of the House and told them that to sit on a budget for seven months is not politics and it is not hurting the president whoever it is, it is not hurting the person but the country.

“For that reason I was pleased to mention yesterday that the ninth National Assembly, you can see and read it in the papers, they have so much commitment on important issues and we make a lot of progress. This relationship we will try and maintain; we cannot allow some of the things go public but I assure you that we have made a lot of progress.”

Speaking earlier, the party’s national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, made jest of former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and 14 other senators who left APC in 2018 to the PDP, saying that they had all been defeated.

Oshiomhole boasted that the senator representing Kogi-west, Dino Melaye, “will next weekend join the other 15 National Assembly members that rebelled against the party,” noting that “Nigerians punished the Bukola Saraki-led rebels by retiring them.”

He, however, lamented that in-fighting and internal wrangling denied the party re-election in Bauchi, Adamawa states, even as he assured that APC “will reclaim its stolen mandate in Sokoto state.”

“Mr. President, I have chosen to amplify where we lost but we also made some gains that quite understanding.  I am sure it is gladdening the heart of every APC member and even APC well- wishers that the man who led rebellion against our party, former Senate President, that people of Kwara state did not only deny him return to the Senate, they also voted out every element in PDP and today from the governorship we won, senators we won and, of course, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly.

“I think our victory in Kwara state for me was most outstanding.  I think we now generally refer to Kwara with Pride as the Otooge revolution.”

The NEC meeting was attended by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC governors and other party leaders.

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and governor of Ogun state Dapo Abiodun were, however, represented by their deputies.

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