I Will Leave in 2023, Buhari Says, Warns Tenure Extension Campaigners to Desist
By Omolosho Fatai Olamilekan
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned supporters to stop campaigning for his tenure extension.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu on Friday.
During a meeting in Makkah with a select group of Nigerian resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Buhari swore with the Holy Quran that he serve in accordance with the constitution of Nigeria that he will leave the office once his tenure expired.
“I swore by the Holy Qur’an that I will serve in accordance with the constitution and leave when my time is up. No ‘Tazarce’(tenure extension).
I don’t want anybody to start talking about and campaigning for unconstitutional extension.
I will not accept that,” he said.
He also expressed strong support to efforts to increase the role of technology in the nation’s elections, adding that the introduction of the card reader and electronic register was God’s answer to his prayers, having been cheated of his victory in three previous elections.
“After the third so-called defeat, I said, ‘God Dey’. My opponents laughed at me but God answered my prayers by bringing in technology.
At that point, nobody can steal their votes or buy them,” the President added.
Buhari, who returned to Abuja, on Friday from Saudi Arabia after the Summit, vowed that he would continue to abide by the constitution in all its ramifications, and that he will at all times, supervise and deal with his ministers on same basis.
“Eighteen months or so of my time left, whatever I can do to improve the life of Nigerians, I will do it for the country,” he assured.
The President commended diaspora Nigerians in the Kingdom for representing the country well, while he charged citizens at home to be fair to his administration at all times.
A leader of community, Dr.Abdulkadir Maikudi, asked President Buhari to assist privately-run Nigerian International School in the Kingdom by equipping it to provide science and technical education.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal and the Consul-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Abdulkarim Mansur also commended the good conduct of about 1.5 million Nigerians living in Saudi kingdom.
According to them, “Nigerian professionals are doing well and projecting a good image of our country.”
