President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday explained why he declared his intention to run for another term in office.
President Buhari had officially declared his intention to seek re-election on Monday, April 9, during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after various speculations.
While receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Justin Welby, in London on Wednesday, President Buhari said that it was necessary for him to make his intention public because many Nigerians wanted to know his intention.
“I declared before leaving home because Nigerians were talking too much about whether I would run or not. So, I felt I should break the ice. We have many things to focus on, like security, agriculture, economy, anti-corruption, and many others.
“We needed to concentrate on them, and politics should not be a distraction. The majority of Nigerians appreciate what we are doing, and that is why I am re-contesting,” Buhari said.
In a statement signed by his special adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also recounted some successes of the administration to the Archbishop.
“We have cut the importation of rice by about 90%, saving billions of dollars in the process. People who rushed into petrol money have now gone back to agriculture. Even professionals have gone back to the land. Nigeria should be able to feed itself comfortably soon. I am so pleased,” the President said.
On the war against insurgency, President Buhari said that there was the need for continuous education of the people.
He said, “this is important so that they can be free from religious manipulation.”
He added that no true religion advocates the hurting or killing of the innocent.
