Forget second term, Okogie, Yakassai, Arewa, others tell Buhari

Following the launching of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 re-election campaign, with the appointment of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as the Director General, some Nigerians have raised eyebrow on the insensitivity of the administration in contemplating such, at a time Nigerians are expecting hardship in virtually all aspects of life. Some ministers in the Buhari cabinet had confirmed the kick starting of the campaign and the appointment of Amaechi to our correspondent on Wednesday, with the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, affirming that the South West campaign office would soon be opened.

This however infuriated some prominent Nigerians, who felt that there was no moral justification for it, especially at a period Nigerians are experiencing blackout, fuel scarcity, wanton killings and economic hardship, among other vices.

Though the All Progressives Congress (APC) had backed Buhari, saying that he has not publicly declared his intention, and that he has the right to contest if he wishes, most of Saturday’s Telegraph’s respondents described Buhari’s silence as consent in view of the fact that he hadn’t cautioned those campaigning for him, noting that the ambition of the president at this period is an unrealistic mission that would never see the light of the day. Toeing the line of people like Father Mbaka, who had warned the president not to run for a second term, most people that spoke with Saturday Telegraph were of the opinion that a disgrace awaits Buhari at the polls, if he fails to heed the warning.

APC: Buhari right to contest but party not aware

The APC however said it is Buhari’s right to seek second term in office, noting however that the party was not aware of any declaration by the President or the setting up a Presidential Campaign Committee.

The APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi stated this yesterday in reaction to the news of Buhari’s declaration for second term in office. According to Abdullahi, it is not in the APC leadership position to speak about the second term of the President but will get involved at the appropriate time. “It is not the party’s place to talk about second term. The President, within his right as provided in the constitution has the right to aspire for the second term. The party has no reason getting involved at this stage. Until the party has been formally notified it cannot make a comment on that as it stands.”

Okogie, Ozekhome: Buhari, a joker, should retire now

Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie was the first to fire a salvo, noting that for President Muhammadu Buhari to be talking of 2019 means he does not love Nigeria at all. “What has he done in the years he had been in the saddle? He has performed woefully; that’s the verdict of Nigerians. Let the president respect himself and retire quietly. Coming out to talk of 2019 is insulting not only to those who voted him to power but to all Nigerians. “There are so many problems confronting the people and he should be thinking of what to do about them. For second term, he must be a joker.

That is all I can say for now because I don’t want to dignify them with a lengthy statement. It is not worth it. According to Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Buhari seems to have lost touch with the reality on ground, noting that the problems that have arose under the APC administration have left Nigerians with no choice than to vote Buhari out.

“People are hungry, no fuel, herdsmen are killing at random and he is talking about kick-starting a campaign to return to power in 2019. It shows he is totally detached from the realities on ground. Although, someone like me, I am not surprised because after listening to him on his New Year broadcast, it was clear that he has completely lost touch and out of tune with the reality on ground in Nigeria.

His popularity for the last two years and nine month when he became the Nigerian president has fallen abysmally and he is now rated less than 25 per cent in terms of popularity in the country simply because he is surrounded by sycophants who continually deceive him. “He is now blinded by their hypocrisy and can no longer see. Those urging him on are his greatest enemies. The best under this circumstance for him would have been to take the Nelson Mandela option, that is, retiring to his Daura farm and continue to tend to his cows. That is my candid opinion on this issue.

Yakassai, Junaid Muhammad: President insensitive

A Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Muhammad also berated Buhari and his ministers for kick starting the re-election campaign of the president while Nigerians are suffering.

Explaining to Saturday Telegraph that the move shows that the president is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, Junaid said he is disappointed as the only thing that should preoccupy the mind of those in government now is how to solve the problems bedeviling the country. In the same vein, Chairman of the Northern Elders Council, (NEC) Tanko Yakassai, said he knew that Buhari would like to seek reelection for a second term, and that he would have been surprised if he declined to re-contest.

According to Junaid, “the move for campaigns at this time confirms in no uncertain terms that President Buhari and the cabal are completely insensitive to the feelings of Nigerians. “It also confirms what was known among leadership around the world that anytime they are unable to solve a problem or are confronted with a challenge either as individuals or as a nation, they look for diversion. “As far as I am concerned any talk about any of our national problems, and we have many national problems, that did not talk about or contribute to addressing the issue of fuel scarcity in my view is a useless diversion.”

He said this is because “if governance is about solving the problem of the people, the number one problem now is to make sure that this fuel scarcity does not ground the country to a halt and I think they would rather drive the country into a complete halt than solve the problem and do what is necessary and they know what is necessary and what has to be done. I am really disappointed”, he said.

Similarly, Yakassai said: “Everybody in Nigeria or outside knows that who ever gets the opportunity to rule the country would want a second term, except somebody like Mandela who because of age and because of the rare opportunity that presented itself to him decided that one term was enough because he was too old and also he has spent most of his time in prison. “If not, anyone who gets an opportunity always wants a second term. So it would be news if he says he is not going for a second term”.

MASSOB: Bid ungodly, hard sell

Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration for second tenure as an ungodly intent to perpetuate the cycle of evil across the country. In a statement signed by the leader of the group, Comrade Uchenna Madu, MASSOB said Buhari’s declaration is a ploy to sustain the unparalleled acts of nepotism, injustice, terrorism and executive impunity by the APC led government.

He noted that government endorsed acts of subjugations against Christian communities in Nigeria is not accidental but premeditated and signing up with Buhari’s second term in office would amount to an endorsement of the terrorism unleashed on Christian communities. “If he does not have a sinister plan for his second term while would he prioritize kick off his re-election campaign at the same time Benue villages were sacked and locals slaughtered in cold blood.

A man that places more emphasis on the life of a cow over that of a man should lead nobody”, Madu said. He continued: “Whoever supports Buhari’s continuation in government is an enemy of southern Nigeria. Buhari has eloquently proved with his bias and actions that he consciously hates the Christian south and makes no pretenses about that.

“In a society where men think with their heads and not their stomach, President Buhari’s second term bid, is tailor-made for failure. His second term bid is a hard sell; it’s so bad that even his kinsmen are having difficulties voicing it. Take it from me, Buhari’s ambition to continue to recycle evil as President of northern Nigeria alone, is dead on arrival.”

Ladoja: Buhari not alive to masses’ sufferings

In the opinion of a former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, who spoke through his Media Assistant, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, raising a campaign team at this time shows that the president is not alive to the sufferings of the people he is governing.

“Kick-starting the second term campaign for Buhari is not appropriate, more so that those who voted for him in 2015 expected more than he had been able to do so far. He is not alive to the suffering of the Nigerian masses and this does not augur well for the electorate who voted him in. “Just this morning, we heard of the Federal Government’s plan to increase the pump price of petroleum from N145 per litre to N180. Is that what Nigerians bargained for? The President did not increase the minimum wage of workers as many Nigerians have been yearning for, yet they want to increase fuel price so that the masses can suffer the more.

Before APC was voted in in 2015, their propaganda was that within one year, Nigeria would become a haven. “From the economic perspective, see how much a dollar costs compared to our naira. You will need to keep N1 per day for one year before you can have a dollar. Naira was N187 to a dollar when Jonathan was in government. See where we are today, yet some people are campaigning that the President should continue. It shows that those in APC are only interested in their own welfare and not that of the masses.

“You can recall the number of killings of innocent people all over. Between January 1 and now, you can imagine how many people have been killed by gunmen and Fulani herdsmen in Rivers, Benue, Kaduna and even in Ondo. The Federal Government just came up with release of a Chibok girl just to divert people’s attention”, Ladoja said.

CAN: Buhari has betrayed the people

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on its part flayed the call on Buhari to contest in 2019 and the setting up of campaign machinery by the ruling All Progressive Party (APC), saying that it is a betrayal of the people. Speaking through its president, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, CAN said it is early in the day for the ruling party to begin to engage in electioneering campaign; rather their primary focus should be on the welfare of Nigerians and securing the lives and property of the people. He said the government has failed as Nigerians are suffering and the land insecure with the Fulani herdsmen maiming, and killings Nigerians across the country and destroying farmlands therefore causing economic crisis and hunger in the land while the government, which pledged as its cardinal responsibility, security of the people looks elsewhere and appeared helpless in addressing and arresting the situation.“I just pray to God that the government will not allow impatience to take over this year because if they don’t arrest it quickly, the so called campaigns they are planning, they would not even have the opportunity of doing it. I just pray that they will be responsible enough to take the bull by the horns. “We have been told not to get ammunition but a group is amassing ammunition and you are not doing anything about it.

I am so angry and this development is a shameful thing and very embarrassing. Is this how Nigeria is going to be the giant of Africa?’’ ‘‘You must use wisdom to protect yourself. When you are telling people not to resort to self-help and somebody is elsewhere is gathering ammunition and no one is arresting him. What does that mean? Is it not hypocrisy? I will not tell you to protect yourself but you just have to use your own wisdom”, he said.

Nduka Eya: APC taking Nigerians for granted

Elderstatesman and former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, lambasted the president for daring to kick of his re-election campaign amid the multiple economic, socio-political and security challenges facing the country. Eya, who is also a former Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State and former Commissioner for Education in the old Anambra State, said the APC administration had failed in addressing the challenges facing the country. “Buhari and APC are taking Nigerians for granted, they think Nigerians will remain fools forever.

What concrete achievement can this administration point at? “What has Chibuike Amechi achieved in the Transportation Ministry in the last three years? How has life fared for average Nigerian under this administration? By the APC fruit we shall know them. If they feel they can depend on rigging, Anambra election has shown that free, fair and peaceful election where peoples votes count, is possible,” he said

 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is a mark of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians for Buhari to flag off his re-election campaign at a time most people are experiencing difficulty.

The PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said that the party stands by its earlier statement that Buhari and the APC have no regard for Nigerians. Ologbondiyan expressed shock that APC is more interested in setting up an electoral structure for Buhari’s second term when Nigerians are dying daily of hunger and poverty while others were being slaughtered. Insisting that it is an indication that APC did not have the interest of Nigerians at heart, the PDP spokesman said: “They have shown that all they care for is their selfish political and pecuniary interests”, urging Nigerians to respond with the full force of the votes and “kick out the selfish and incompetent APC out of office come 2019.”

Also, the Southwest Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Eddy Olafeso, described as laughable the move by President Muhammadu Buhari to seek second term in office.

Although Olafeso and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Support Group (PSG) in Ondo State said the President has legal right to seek reelection, they however said the performance in office in the last two years was woeful. Olafeso wondered what Buhari would say he has done for the people of the Southwest geo-political zone when herdsmen have sacked farmers from their farms in different parts of the zone.

Morally, Olafeso said the President should bow out of office honourably. Pointedly, Olafeso said Buhari would be humiliated if he decides to seek reelection as his performance in office did not justify his reelection bid. He advised the President to return to his farm in Daura and manage his cows.

Similarly, the Coordinator of the PSG, Hon Bode Obanla said it would be easy to defeat Buhari if he decides to seek reelection as people of the country are angry over his non-performance and the hardship the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government has brought the citizens. Obanla said over eight million people have lost their jobs since Buhari came to office while those who returned to farm have been sacked by herdsmen with government doing nothing about it. The PDP chieftain said the people of the country would revolt against the APC in the forthcoming election if Buhari dares seeks reelection.

Hon. Bitrus Kaze: Idea sickening, absurd

A former member of the House of Representatives who represented Jos South and Jos East Constituency said there might be nothing legally inappropriate for Buhari to contest “but there’s everything morally wrong with a veteran contestant to the office of President of Nigeria, who since the beginning of his democratic contest never saw anything good about any of his predecessors”.

He recalled that Buhari, in tears, vowed never to contest again “but reneged and promised heaven on earth through his change grand deception”, and now, under his watch Nigeria’s wellbeing has abysmally degenerated. “From Buhari’s rudderless economic policies to worsening foreign exchange and petroleum prices to countless failed promises, the idea that PMB will re-contest is not only sickening but morally and logically absurd”.

YOWICAN: Buhari’s ambition, a fruitless journey

The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), speaking through its National President, Engr. Daniel Kadzai advised Buhari not to waste his time and his already exhausted energy to embark on a fruitless journey.

Kadzai who spoke with Saturday Telegraph in Jos said that the president had no moral right to contest again considering the fact that he has proven to Nigerians that he is a religious leader and not the president of the country. He pointed out that, “Buhari’s new year national broadcast clearly proved to Christians in Nigeria that they are not in safe custody under the lopsided administration.

Kadzai continued: “When 18 Muslims were killed in reprisal in Taraba, the presidency was relocated to the state with military and police headquarters hunting for the attackers, but when over 40 Christians were killed in Plateau, the president traveled out of the country three days after attack. “When some Muslims were killed in Ibadan the president was there with the police swiftly making arrests, but when Fulani herdsmen killed Christians in Benue, police did arrest anyone.

In Enugu, Edo, the massacre in southern Kaduna State the police could not find even one of the attackers. It is now very clear to Christians why IPOB can be tagged a terrorist group, but the Fulani herdsmen and Arewa Youth forum cannot be tagged with any criminal identity,” he stated. Kadzai maintained that the IPOB was not killing people, but the Chief of Army Staff deployed soldiers to South East and South West with operations Python Dance and Crocodile Smile. 

Arewa youths berate Buhari 

Arewa Youth Forum, (AYF) on Friday kicked against the planned commencement of the re-election campaigns, saying it is inhuman. AYF in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna said Buhari and his service chiefs should look for ways to tackle the myriad of problems bedeviling the country before talking of the 2019 elections. In the statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, the AYF noted that it is appalled to hear that in the midst of all the problems in the country, the president and his men have already put in place measures to kick-start his re-election bid for 2019.

“As the apex body of youths in the 19 northern states and Abuja with affiliates across the country, we see the re-election bid of Mr. President at this point in time as inhuman, uncalled for and an insult to the sensibilities of the suffering Nigerian masses.

“Arewa Youth Forum, is worried about the mindless killings all over the country especially those in Benue, Kaduna, Kwara and Rivers, also that these carnage is taking place in the New Year.

“We are even more amazed this is coming shortly after the extension of the tenure of the service chiefs, as such it calls for serious concern. Is this the good work that the President extended their tenure for? It is time for them to justify their continuous stay in office or give way to those that can bring out a security architecture that can protect Nigerians.

“We are also worried that Nigerians had to go through the yuletide with agony and pains because of the fuel scarcity which still persists, with the Federal Government not having a definite roadmap to ending the malaise