Middle Belt Groups Kick Against Reelection Of President Buhari

Two Middle Belt groups have kicked against President Muhammadu Buhari contesting the 2019 presidential election.

The President, Middle Belt Youth Council, Emma Zopmal, said that there was nothing Buhari could offer.

He stated,  “We all know the gross violations of extant laws that our legal system has suffered under President Buhari. His ambition to seek re-election will tamper with a lot of things in this country. He should just play the gentleman and go home.

The President of the National Council of Tiv Youths, Dr. John Akperashi, said that those calling on Buhari to run in 2019 are doing so for their selfish interests.

Akperashi stated this in an interview with   Saturday PUNCH  on Friday while commenting on a statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, that the President would contest the 2019 presidential election.

The NCTY  said, “If you look at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, of course, you would not expect him to say anything otherwise just as if you were equally in his position.”

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According to him, for any person to clamour for Buhari’s return in 2019, such a person must basically first and foremost estimate his performance and delivery capacity based on his 2015 campaign promises.

He said, “Buhari’s administration is one that has failed woefully in the areas of security, protection of lives and property, and governance.

“For instance in all the communities, rural areas and states that the Fulani herdsmen have left their horror, the ugly memories still linger. The general phenomenon and accusations by the rural dwellers, whether you like it or not, is that because Buhari is a Fulani, his kinsmen are emboldened to unleash horror, invade ancestral homes and occupy same unchallenged.”

But the apex Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, called on other presidential aspirants to declare their interest like  Buhari.

It said that the President had the right to go for another term in office, noting that it was up to Nigerians to vote for him if they were pleased with the way and manner he had been running the country.

Afenifere’s spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin, noted that the most important thing was the opening of the political space for the other aspirants to declare their intention and canvass for support.

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He added, “The declaration that Buhari would run for a second term did not count much because he has the constitutional right to run for a second term. He has chosen to exercise that right and I don’t think Nigerians should dwell on that.

“If Nigerians like the way he has been running the country for the past three years, let them vote for him. The most important thing is that he has opened the political space. Let every aspirant come out and present their programmes to Nigerians.”

Asked if Buhari deserved a second term, the Afenifere’s spokesman stated that the organisation would assess the President’s performance and then declare its stand.

He said, “Our organisation would look at all that is going on in the country, we would look at what life has become today, fuel scarcity, and the insecurity in the country and see whether the President deserves a second term or not, in due time.”

“It is left for Nigerians to decide if they want him to continue running their lives this way. We want other aspirants to throw their hats in the ring so Nigerians can have a choice of who to vote for,” the group stated.

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