Presidential election in Nigeria: Buhari is candidate

His office has just put an end to the speculations by announcing that he will be seeking a second term in office on 2019.

The announcement comes at a time when Mr. Buhari is planning to travel to the United Kingdom for an official visit during which he is due to meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and attend the commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that starts on April 16.

The Nigeria President will run under the banner of the ruling All Progressive Congress. The main opposition People’s Democratic Party is yet to announce its candidate.

The announcement from the President to seek a second mandate meets with criticisms from former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who in an open letter had earlier called on Mr. Buhari not to seek another mandate given his age (74) and ill health couple with his mediocre handling of the country’s economy, the largest in Africa.

Mr. Obasanjo expressed disappointment with Mr. Buhari, but following a statement from the spokesman of the head of state, he accepted the criticisms in good faith noting however that great significant progress has been made under his rule to tackle Nigeria’s problems

Mr Buhari is the first opposition leader to defeat an incumbent in Nigeria (President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential). He had a difficult first year of governance beset by ill health which saw him spent moths in the UK receiving treatment, though the name of the illness was not indicated publicly.

He actually travelled to the UK three times last year for medical attention, during which time his vice president, Yemi Osibajo manages some of the affairs of the state.

Recently, President Buhari has been very instrumental in managing local development in Nigeria.  He has visited many of Nigeria’s trouble spots including the North Eastern town of Dapchi, where 110 school girls were abducted in February by Boko Haram.

He also visited the middle belt states of Taraba, Plateau and Benue, which have been hit by clashes over grazing land between nomadic herdsmen and farmers.

One of the recent measures taken by Mr. Buhari in fighting insecurity in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the approval of a N360 billion for the procurement of equipments to fight the rising insecurity in the country.

His office has however announce more resounding measure in the days ahead and most especially during his second term of office if he eventually wins.