Buhari will certainly hand over on Could 29, 2023

Could 29, 2023, is sacrosanct and President Muhammadu Buhari will certainly hand over to his successor on that day, the presidency has mentioned.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, mentioned this in response to an announcement by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke.

Mr Clarke had instructed that President Buhari can constitutionally lengthen his tenure by six months to permit him deal with the safety challenges dealing with Nigeria.

In his response, Mr Shehu mentioned such was not being thought of by Mr Buhari.

“Having been the primary recipient of a democratic switch of energy from an incumbent administration to an opposition candidate in Nigerian historical past, the President is dedicated to extending and entrenching democratic values throughout the nation.

“He shall, in flip, hand the privilege of serving the individuals of Nigeria to whomever they select by means of free, truthful and credible elections,” Mr Shehu wrote.

Learn Mr Shehu’s full assertion beneath.

In response to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria’s current remarks, the Presidency needs to state as follows:

Chief Robert Clarke, a really well-respected elder could also be honest in his want for the President to increase his time period by six months. We want to categorically restate that the President will step down on Could twenty ninth, 2023, after serving two phrases – as per the structure.

Having been the primary recipient of a democratic switch of energy from an incumbent administration to an opposition candidate in Nigerian historical past, the President is dedicated to extending and entrenching democratic values throughout the nation. He shall, in flip, hand the privilege of serving the individuals of Nigeria to whomever they select by means of free, truthful and credible elections.

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Nevertheless, Chief Clarke is true to say that with out safety, Nigeria would not going understand its true potential as a peaceable and affluent nation. That’s the reason it has been on the core of this administration. The outcomes are there for all to see. Boko Haram have been compelled again from controlling complete swathes of this nation. Internally Displaced Individuals are actually returning to rebuild their communities. These achievements have been completed by means of the bravery and dedication of the Nigerian armed forces and the fortitude of the individuals of our nation.

New challenges have arisen and tackled in flip – whether or not it’s the Nationwide Livestock Transformation Plan to alleviate herder-farmer clashes, the elimination of the management of ISWAP, or new efforts to fight banditry. Until the final day of the administration, the safety of the residents shall stay the administration’s paramount concern. We will end the job. But, in any case, respect for the structure and Nigerians’ democratic rights stays one of the best path to securing after which sustaining peace.

But there are others, resembling Chief Afe Babalola, that imagine elections needs to be suspended, with the present elected authorities changed by an interim unelected administration. This, he claims, is important to create a brand new structure for the individuals, made attainable, paradoxically, by ignoring their democratic rights. Down that path lies disaster and instability.

As an alternative, this administration proposes one thing completely less complicated: honouring the structure and other people’s proper to resolve.

Garba Shehu

Senior Particular Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

Could 10, 2022