President Muhammadu Buhari told All progressives Congress (APC) governors last night he had not decided on whether to recontest.
He asked them to give him more time to decide, during a late meeting at the First Lady’s Conference Room at the Presidential Villa, according to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who spoke to reporters.
He said: “We discussed so many issues that affect the nation, our party and Me. President’s ambition to run for 2019 elections.
“It is the desire of the governors that Mr. President should run for this exalted office given his performance in the last two years. We believe that if he continues, Nigeria will be better for it.
“Anyhow, Mr. President in his usual manner has requested that we give him time and that he will address the national caucus of the party very soon. So we should be full of expectation that Mr. President will make officially known to Nigerians his intentions but we hope that his response will be in line with what the governors are thinking.”
EXCLUSIVE | Buhari Reluctant to Run in 2019: Pressured by Desperate Governors and Ministers
Recall that SIGNAL had reported exclusively last week that President Muhammadu Buhari is reluctant to run for President in 2019 but for the pressure being mounted on him by some members of the Federal Executive Council led by former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi as well as some state governors.
A top source informed about the development told SIGNAL that the impression created to the public about the 2019 presidential election especially within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was not altogether correct.
According to the source, there seems to be an impression that the party has settled for Buhari especially as he had already decided to throw his hat into the ring. “It is not what it seems at all. Nigerians may need to brace for a shocker. Buhari is very reluctant to run for President in 2019. He is undecided and nothing is cast in stone yet. He is just being pressured by some cabinet members; a few ministers and some governors who are afraid they will lose their hold on power and political relevance once Buhari leaves office”, the source said.
A controversial and diminutive governor from the North-West is reportedly spearheading the “Buhari Must Run” campaign following his perceived poor performance and rising unpopularity in his home state. The calculation, according to the source, is for governors like him to use Buhari’s re-election to legitimise and build more momentum for their personal and selfish political aspirations to get re-elected.
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