By Frank Momoh
Against the groundswell of his admirers and political jobbers, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari prepare for a third term bid, he (Buhari) has openly distanced himself from those ochestrating such plan come 2023.
Pointedly making it clear, Buhari, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, he said under no condition will the Constitution be amended to pave way for Buhari’s third term bid. He however did not cite age as a barrier. By 2023, Buhari would have progressed beyond 80 years.
While the rumour thickens and appeared to be gathering concern across social media platforms, Shehu, said such insinuation is simply ill-conceived, adding that the president had no agenda to stay beyond 2023.
According to the president’s spokesperson, Buhari is a democract who have respects for the the country’s Constitution, stressing that to now turn around to seek a third term is unconstitutional and will ultimately hit dead end.
In the meantime, the President will be arriving South Africa later today as part of the fence mending rapprochement between Nigeria and that country caused by the recent xenophobic attacks unleashed on foreigners and Nigerians in that country.
The invitation which is coming on request by the South African President, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, is also billed to engage Nigerian community in South Africa.
Billed to travel with him are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Kano State Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and David Umahi of Ebonyi State among others.
The President is scheduled to be back in Abuja on Friday 4th.