ON Friday, May 19, Kaduna state governor Nasir el-Rufai said he would continue to demolish buildings and sack workers till the last minute of his administration.
“Any bad thing we find, we will remove so that the next governor does not need to do it again. Watch out till the eleventh hour when we shall quit office; we will continue to sack bad persons and remove bad things,” el-Rufai said.
In the days following the statement, el-Rufai has been making good his threat of demolishing houses in several areas of the state.
On Monday, May 22, some buildings in the state belonging to Shi’ites, who are members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) led by El-Zakzaky, were demolished by operatives of the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA).
The demolished buildings included Islamic schools, a hospital and private buildings, according to Shi’ite leaders during a press briefing held after the demolition.
The exercise attracted severe criticisms from the Shi’ite community and gave rise to fears of possible unrest in the state.
Demolition is not a new development in Kaduna state under the El-Rufai administration.
In 2021, hundreds of houses were demolished in Zaria as the Kaduna state authorities began a major demolition exercise.
During his time as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), about 800,000 residents were evicted from their homes due to demolition exercises ordered by el-Rufai between 2003 and 2007.
However, the Shi’ites claimed during the press briefing that they were the target of the recent exercise, which they described as vindictive, adding that the only reason given for pulling down their structures was that they were members of a proscribed group.
One of the group’s leaders, Yunusa Lawal, who spoke during the briefing, said there had been no notice from the government ahead of the demolition, and a leaked memo from the KASUPDA suggested that a total of 48 houses belonging to the IMN would be pulled down.
“We were never served any notice to know the reason for the demolition, so we don’t even know the location of the remaining 42 structures they plan to demolish. The only reason we saw in the leaked memo is that we are a proscribed movement, but we are saying we are a religious community; we cannot be banned.
“El-Rufai is pushing us to the wall. We are law-abiding citizens but there is a limit to everything. We cannot fold our arms. We must talk. We are bona fide citizens of Nigeria, even though el-Rufai is not a better citizen than us. He is bastardising everything but we will continue to be law-abiding citizens,” Lawal said.
Another group of people affected by the last-minute demolition exercise are residents of the Gbagyi villa community in Kaduna.
Regardless of the uproar from the Shi’ite community, demolition continued across Kaduna and on May 26, barely three days to el-Rufai’s exit from office, at least 20 houses in Gbagyi villa were pulled down by the KASUPDA.
According to a report, protesting youths seeking to resist the demolition were shot at by security agencies attached to the demolition team, with many sustaining injuries.
One resident of Gbagyi villa, identified as Sarah, reportedly slumped and died upon hearing of the demolition.
El-Rufai had attempted to demolish the Gbagyi Villa in the past, though he was restricted by a court order.
A resident identified as Haruna said el-Rufai nullified all building approvals obtained prior to the court case.
“Following the court judgment in favour of the Gbagyi Villa community, el-Rufai asked us to fill a form for regularisation at the cost of N20,000, and majority had done that.
“Again, just about 10 days ago, KASUPDA brought a letter that el-Rufai had ordered that all buildings approvals obtained before the court case are null and void, asking us to start processing new building approvals and new building plans with dates not earlier than May 2023,” Haruna was quoted as saying.
He also noted that the government gave residents 60 days to secure the approval, adding that the time given for the process had not yet elapsed.
“It is not yet 60 days based on the notice KASUPDA gave us, and we didn’t even say we are not ready to abide by the obnoxious policy, just to allow peace to reign.
“They are the people that are not even ready with the forms needed; yet this afternoon, the same Kaduna State government through the KASUPDA invaded Gbagyi Villa and started demolishing our houses,” Haruna said.
For Haruna, Lawal, and many other residents of the state, loss of property and homelessness is a parting memory by which el-Rufai will be remembered.
THE wife of the President-elect Oluremi Tinubu has said her family is blessed and does not need Nigeria’s wealth to survive.
Remi stated this at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, during the 2023 Presidential Inauguration Inter-Denominational Service held on Sunday, May 28.
Observers are, however, saying what the incoming first lady said contradicted her words a few weeks when she publicly stated that she begged the wife of her husband’s running mate, Nana Shettima, for N2 million in February in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
Remi had stated that her husband, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, was only generous and compassionate and not wealthy as many people must have thought.
“God has been merciful to us. I can tell you on my own that we never believed this could happen. But thank God for giving us hope, for giving us the resilience to continue in the race of life.
“Asiwaju is 71, and I will be 63. I bet I will be one of the oldest first ladies Nigeria would have. We need the grace of God, and we need everyone to do what Nigerians are expecting.” she said.
She also said that the country must be united at this period, adding that her husband’s Inauguration, which is the seventh since 1999, signifies perfection.
“Nigeria’s wealth is the commonwealth of all. It belongs to everyone. God has blessed my family. We don’t need the wealth of Nigeria to survive but to do the right thing. And I promise you on this altar, that with your help, with the help of God, who will set this nation on the right path,” she added.
The church service was also attended by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, and senator-elect Godswill Akpabio, among other dignitaries.
THE Nigerian military and police have arrested four Yoruba agitators who participated in an early morning hijack of Radio Nigeria, Amuludun 99.1 FM in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday, May 28.
According to the Punch newspaper, the agitators stormed the station, located at J&P Bus-stop, Moniya in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state capital in a 18-seater bus, armed with charms and other weapons.
They took over broadcast for more than an hour, after holding staff on duty captive.
They threatened to kill the workers if they scream or attempt to make any call about the invasion.
Besides, they asked the workers to remove the Nigerian flags hung in the building and replace them with the Yoruba nation flag that they brought.
All the agitators wore shirts bearing the ‘Yoruba Nation’s inscription.
There was at least a woman among them.
Only six of the invaders entered the radio studio to make a declaration, including “welcome to Yoruba Nation.”
Others kept watch over the building.
To ensure the operation was successful, they reportedly hijacked some commercial vehicles from their owners within the vicinity, which they used to block the roads leading to the area.
But luck soon ran out of them as military and police officers trooped in and surrounded the premises.
They were able to arrest four of the agitators, while others fled, and were yet to be apprehended as of press time.
The most senior worker on duty at the station, Ajayi Omotola, narrated the invasion, “They told us that they are Yoruba Nation agitators. And in their T-shirt, there was that inscription there. They wrote Yoruba Nation. Only six persons came inside the studio with different charms threatening to kill us if we failed to cooperate. Others were outside manning security at different areas within the premises.
“They collected all our phones and threatened to kill us if we made any noise or phone calls. They said they wanted to broadcast live that Yoruba Nation has taken over. We should remove all Nigeria flags in our studio and replace it with their own.
“They didn’t allow anybody to go outside. The Area Commander came, addressed and even pleaded with them but they ignored him. We later heard sporadic shooting outside. So, one of our staff members then came inside to inform us that police and soldiers had arrived.”
Peace has returned to the area as gun-wielding soldiers and police officers and about a score military vehicles have been deployed to the area.
The incident occurred a day before the President-elect, a Yoruba man, takes oath of office as Nigeria’s president.
Agitation for Yoruba nation has been led by two major people in the South-West, populated by the Yorubas.
In 2022, Igboho was arrested in Benin Republic while fleeing Nigeria for Germany after he had been involved in activities the Federal Government considered treasonable.
He was detained for several weeks before a court released him. He has since not returned to Nigeria.
FORCE Public Relations Officer (FPRO) of the Nigeria Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi has said the posting of the Katsina State police public relations officer (PPRO) Gambo Isah is unconnected to allegations of assault that a female journalist Rukayya Jibia levelled against him.
Speaking to The ICIR on Sunday, May 28, Adejobi said Isah’s posting was part of a routine reshufflement within the public relations unit of the force.
“I don’t see anything special in the allegations made on her TikTok platform. It is not even a matter that the headquarters will take seriously. The public relations officer (PRO) in Katsina has been promoted to CSP (chief superintendent of police) and a CSP will not be in charge of a Command.
“As a CSP, he can be in charge of a Zone, and that is why he has been moved to Zone 14 Katsina. It has nothing to do with the allegations,” Adejobi said.
Isah had announced on Saturday, May 27, that he had been transferred from his position as PRO of the state police command in a new posting by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba.
In a post via his official Twitter handle on Saturday, May 27, Isah said he had been assigned a new role as PPRO for Zone 14 in Katsina state.
“After 7yrs of excellent stewardship as PPRO Katsina Police command and with my subsequent elevation to the rank of CSP, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered my posting as PPRO Zone 14, Katsina. I will be supervising the Public Relations units of Katsina and Kaduna states command,” Isah posted on Saturday.
The posting came a few days after Jibia accused him of assault, which led to speculations that both incidents were linked.
The journalist, who works with Cliqq TV in Katsina, said she was assaulted by policemen attached to the state police command, led by Isah.
In a video circulating on social media, Jibia said she was assaulted for speaking up against the parade of four young women arrested over alleged prostitution by the police, though the ladies had not been convicted or tried.
She added that Isah personally dragged her out of her car, twisting her arm in the process and smashed her phone on the floor.
She also said there were, at least, 20 policemen present during the assault, after which she was detained for about five hours.
Reacting to Jibia’s allegations through a statement on Twitter, Isah described them as frivolous, adding that the journalist had been maliciously attacking the police via social media.
The assault attracted criticisms from Nigerians, including human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who, in an interview with The ICIR, described it as “outrageous.”
THE Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, says he became poorer by 12 per cent during his last four years as the governor.
As Makinde explained, the fall in his finances was due to his inability to manage his business effectively while serving as governor.
The governor, addressing journalists in the state on Sunday, May 28, said his assets had dropped now, compared to what he had in 2019.
He disclosed he had already submitted his asset declaration form at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) office in Ibadan on Friday, May 26, saying the details would be made available to the public soon.
“You are all aware of my assets declaration for the first tenure. I can tell you that in the last four years, I’ve been poorer by 10 to 12 per cent.
“This is because I have not really had the chance to look after my business.
“We have been looking after Oyo state business, so I’m not surprised that there were losses a bit here and there, but I’m still okay,” he said.
The ICIR had reported that Makinde’s assets were worth over N48 billion in cash and other properties when he declared in 2019.
Last Wednesday, the CCB asked all governors-elect to declare their assets before May 29.
Makinde, having won the 2023 governorship election with 563,617 votes, will be retaining his seat as the Oyo state governor.
Speaking on his assets declaration, the governor said, “By law, I have to declare my assets at the end of my first tenure and before assuming office for the next tenure.
“So, I have gone to the CCB office to submit my assets declaration form at the end of my first tenure and also my assets at the beginning of the second tenure.”
PRESIDENT Mohammadu Buhari has urged opposition parties to accept courts’ verdicts on the presidential election.
Buhari said opposition parties and their presidential candidates should accept courts’ decisions on their respective cases and be willing to unite for the country’s growth.
Buhari said this in his farewell message broadcast nationwide early Sunday, May 28.
After the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2023 presidential election, opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), challenged the election result.
They described the poll as a “sham election” with “massive manipulation.”
The PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, filed a petition challenging the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They alleged that irregularities in thousands of polling units marred the poll.
Abubakar is asking the court to declare him Nigeria’s president-elect or nullify the election and order a rerun.
Similarly, the LP candidate, Peter Obi, who came third in the election, also filed a petition challenging Tinubu’s victory and asking the court to declare him the winner or cancel the election and order a rerun.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) equally lodged a petition to challenge the outcome of the presidential election.
Speaking on the election petitions against the president-elect, Buhari said political parties and their candidates should be willing to accept the court rulings on their cases.
“Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.
“As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, and the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose,” he said.
Buhari saluted the opposition for trusting the country’s judicial system with their grievances against the election.
He asked that the parties prioritise the country’s growth above all else.
“I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the presidential candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to the court.
“In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better, but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better,” he said.
The ICIR reported that the presidential election tribunal has merged the petitions challenging the election.
The court has also set May 30 as the date for the commencement of the hearing of the consolidated petition.
Meanwhile, Tinubu will be inaugurated as Nigeria’s president on Monday, May 29.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has again claimed that Nigeria’s electoral process was free, fair and credible under his administration.
Buhari, in a nationwide 7am broadcast on Sunday, May 28, said he would be leaving behind when he exits as President tomorrow an electoral process that guarantees that every Nigerian vote counts, adding that his administration had reduced the influence of money in politics to its barest minimum.
The President’s claims are despite the widespread reported cases of electoral irregularities and violence in the 2023 general elections.
Following the closely contested polls, allegations of voter suppression, irregularities in the electoral process, and concerns over transparency have cast a doubt over the credibility of the results.
The two main opposition parties are still in court contesting the outcome of the elections due, among other reasons, to the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit the results using the Bimodal Voter’s Accreditation System (BVAS) at the polling station and uploading of results to the viewing centre (IREV).
The ICIRreported many reported cases of irregularities during the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
During the 2023 general elections, this platform documented how many Nigerians were disenfranchised due to INEC ad-hoc officers’ lateness to designation polling units, malfunction of BVAS in some polling units, and widespread electoral violence, among others.
According to an analysis published by The ICIR, the 2023 elections fell short of the promises and expectations of Nigerians, in spite of the deployment of world-class and highly expensive technology.
“In the presidential election, the electoral umpire’s failure to upload results from polling units granted fraudsters the opportunity to intimidate electoral officials and subsequently announce doubtful results resisted by opposition parties. The governorship elections, promised to be an improvement on the presidential election, was also totally disappointing,” the report noted.
In another report, the Centre for Democracy and Development’s (CDD) Election Analysis Centre (EAC) called for an end to “electoral impunity” in Nigeria in order for democracy to deepen in the country.
This is contained in the centre’s preliminary report on the supplementary governorship elections that held in five states of the federation on Saturday, March 23.
The report showed that there were widespread instances of violence, vote buying, voter intimidation, underage voting, and harassment of journalists in several of the polling units where the supplementary elections were held across Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Plateau and Sokoto states.
The outgoing President, however, remains resolute in his assertion that the election was conducted fairly.
He expressed confidence in the electoral system.
He said, “To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process that guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent, and the influence of money in politics is reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.
“We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political godfather or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.”
Buhari also said that Nigeria witnessed the most keenly contested presidential elections since the first republic, adding that it demonstrated that the country democracy was getting better.
“This year, we witnessed the most keenly contested presidential elections since the first republic, and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.
“We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among nations,” he said.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria’s economy has become more resilient due to strategies his administration deployed.
Buhari disclosed this while delivering his farewell speech on Sunday, May 28, ahead of his exit from office tomorrow.
“Nigeria’s economy has become more resilient due to various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remains afloat during cases of global economic downturns,” he said.
Speaking of the economic challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Buhari said the swift response of his administration during the period, among other strategies, contributed to strengthening the nation’s economy.
“The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice. Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provide more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.
“Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investment is guaranteed,” he said.
The president’s claims are, however, inconsistent with available data on development indices like inflation, foreign exchange and gross domestic product (GDP) rates.
The president’s claim of increasing citizens’ ability to earn a living also contrasts with the current 33.3 per cent unemployment rate, which increased by almost 400 per cent under Buhari’s administration.
Before Buhari assumed office in 2015, Nigeria dealt with a single-digit inflation rate of 9.01 per cent. However, this figure increased by almost 75 per cent in 2016, about a year into his administration, when it rose to 15.68.
The country has witnessed a steady surge in inflation rates, which currently stands at 22.22 per cent, according to data from the National Bureau of Statics (NBS).
Food prices have also soared over the years, and the naira has been steadily devalued under Buhari’s administration.
Due to harmful policies like the naira redesign and consequent cash crunch, which resulted in severe hardship for Nigerians, the nation’s GDP declined by 2.31 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, according to the NBS.
While speaking on Nigeria’s economy at The ICIR Twitter Space on Friday, May 19, a development economist, Kelvin Emmanuel, also pointed out that realities in Nigeria contradict previous claims by the government of economic improvement.
“If inflation is at 22.04 per cent and MPR is at 18 per cent, by the time we add management, appraisal, facilitation, and documentation fees and others, the commercial lending rate would have gone to between 28 per cent and 31 per cent.
“How can a company, for example, borrow money at a 31 per cent interest rate and still be in business?” Emmanuel asked.
Buhari, however, maintained in his farewell speech that difficult economic choices made by his administration yielded desired results.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated he is leaving Nigeria better than he met it in 2015.
Buhari lauded his government for success in revamping the economy, tackling corruption and insecurity, improving the electoral process and launching a pathway for infrastructural development for the nation.
In a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, May 28, the President harped on the need for citizens to unite and move the nation forward.
He said his government fought corruption and recovered funds stashed abroad and mansions built with looted commonwealth.
The President sympathised with Nigerians who lost relations either to death or abduction, and wished the incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, well in building on his “success.”
He congratulated Tinubu, whom he described as the best among the February 25 presidential election candidates.
However, The ICIR reports that despite Buhari’s claims of success in the economy and security, many incidents, including large-scale killings and multinational and local industries which shut down under his government because of ill-managed economy and policy summersaults, invalidate his claims.
For instance, The ICIR reported in 2022 in a two-part report, which is here and here, how giant industries disappeared in the South-East.
Insecurity, which made the companies collapse, is also rife in other regions of the nation.
The ICIR also published a report on key insecurity issues in the nation under the President on May 21.
The report captures several killings, displacements, abductions and kidnappings and other preventable heinous crimes committed by non-state actors under the President.
In his Sunday speech, the President said on insecurity, “Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.”
He also said on the economy, “In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering, for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the overall good of the country.
“Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes, notably among which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, and completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.”
Buhari urged every party or candidate dissatisfied with the 2023 general elections to seek redress in court. He also advised them to accept the court’s decision, urging every citizen to consolidate the nation’s democracy for a better country.
The President leaves office tomorrow, May 2023 and will hand over to Tinubu in Abuja.
AT what point did it dawn on outgoing Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari that he can’t cope with the pressure of the office, which he held for eight years?
From the moment he assumed office on May 29, 2015, and was immediately confronted with the task of forming a cabinet. Buhari dithered. Governance suffered, Nigerians became increasingly impatient, and pressure mounted on the new President to name his ministers. Eventually, it took Buhari six months to make the decision.
The indecisiveness that surrounded the appointment of Buhari’s first cabinet became a feature of his administration. Millions of Nigerians, who expected so much from the retired Army general, were initially worried that the former military ruler seemed not to be moving fast enough. They remembered Buhari as a military dictator, a man of action but what they were getting was ‘Baba-go-slow‘, as the new President came to be known in his earliest days as a democratically elected civilian ruler.
On May 23 – six days before he rounds off his eight-year government – Buhari finally confessed that he can’t cope with the pressure of the office.
Buhari made the confession at a dinner organised in his honour by the Nigerian Armed Forces. It was one of several activities lined up for the May 29 inauguration ceremony. The President arrived late for the event.
Apologising for his lateness, Buhari said, “Please, I will like to digress from the prepared speech. I apologise most sincerely for keeping you waiting. I can hardly cope with the pressure. I am desperately looking forward to the next six days.”
Like most of the cringingly frank comments Buhari has been making about his increasingly desperate desire to be rid of his responsibilities as Nigeria’s President, the statement came without prodding, out of the blues. There was no apparent reason for such uncomfortable admission of weakness.
Having served as military head of state for two years, 1983 to 1985, before he was ousted in a coup d’etat, Buhari spent 12 years pushing to return to power as a democratically elected president, following Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999. He contested and lost three presidential elections – 2003, 2007 and 2011 – before winning in 2015.
But, in a weird turn of events, after eight years as President, Buhari can’t stop telling anybody that cares to listen how desperate he is to leave the job.
The man can’t wait to leave Aso Rock. Listening to Buhari’s recent confessions, one gets the impression he wouldn’t mind being as far away as possible from the Eagle Square, venue of the handover to his successor, President-elect Bola Tinubu, on May 29.
Buhari had on several occasions made it clear he was counting the days to the end of his administration. He will then have the opportunity to actualise his heart’s desire – to be as far away from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, as possible.
On April 21, when residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) paid him a Sallah homage to mark the Eid el-Fitr celebration, Buhari, while restating his impatience to leave office, noted that he already got what he asked for.
“I can’t wait to go home. I deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible from you people. I have got what I have asked and will quietly retire to my home town in Daura,” Buhari said while addressing the FCT residents, led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mohammed Bello.
Home sweet home: Daura? Kaduna? Niger Republic?
After passing the baton to Tinubu on May 29, Buhari will proceed to his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State. He will stay there for six months, before retiring to Kaduna State. This itinerary was revealed in a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on April 27.
From all indications Buhari has missed the rustic settings of Daura, his village. During the valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on May 24, Buhari told his ministers that he was looking forward to receiving those who would not mind the long distance to visit him in the rural community.
“I look forward to many of you, disproving that Daura has become too distant because I am no longer Mr President,” he said.
If all goes according to plan, Buhari will take off from the Eagle Square to Kaduna immediately he hands over to Tinubu on May 29. “I assure you, I have been counting the days, I am looking forward to Monday (May 29) very desperately. I will use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagles Square, I will fly to Kaduna and eventually go to Daura,” Buhari said on May 26, at the Presidential Villa, during the public presentation of a book titled ‘A promise kept: A compendium of significant achievements of Muhammadu Buhari Administration 2015-2023’.
Buhari receives Niger Republic’s highest national honour from then President Mahamadou Issoufou at the Presidential Villa in Abuja
But it is also possible that Buhari will not be staying in Daura or Kaduna. It is likely that the outgoing President will relocate to Niger Republic, a neighbouring West African country.
Addressing the FCT residents who paid him a Sallah homage on April 21, Buhari said he would leave for Niger Republic after handing over as President if he is not able to get enough rest in Daura.
“If they make any noise to disturb me in Daura, I will leave for the Niger Republic.”
On May 23, Buhari restated his readiness to relocate to Niger Republic. He spoke during the inauguration of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.
“I said if anybody with force moves, I have a good relationship with my neighbours. Niger (Republic) people will defend me,” Buhari said, outlining his intention to go on exile if the country he has just ruled for eight years is deemed uncomfortable for him to live in after May 29.
From Buhari’s comments, the plan to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, particularly Niger Republic, if things get difficult after leaving office, had been in the works since 2015, when he assumed office as President.
“That is why when I became the President, my first visit was to Niger Republic, Chad and Cameroon because, based on personal and national issues, the neighbourhood is very important. If you don’t secure the confidence and cooperation of your neighbours, you are in trouble, your children and grandchildren will be in trouble,” he explained.
“So it is very good that I established a relationship with my neighbours. I said these few things about my personal belief because I have only six more days to go (from May 23). And I try to plan to be as far away from Abuja as possible. Thank goodness, I come from an area which is far away from Abuja.”
As highlighted in the report, Niger Republic was the first country Buhari visited after he was sworn in as President in 2015. In March 2021, Buhari named a major expressway in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, after the then President of Niger Republic Mahamadou Issoufou, and was in turn honoured with Niger Republic’s highest national award, Grande Croix Des Ordre National Du Niger. Immediate past Niger Republic President Issoufou visited Buhari just before leaving office. His successor Mohammed Bazoum called on Buhari shortly after taking over – his very first official trip.
During the reception for Bazoum at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, Buhari vowed that he would do everything possible to secure Niger Republic from terror attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents. Buhari made the pledge to protect Niger Republic despite his administration’s failure to address security challenges in Nigeria.
Again, the Nigerian government, under Buhari, embarked on the construction of a $2 billion rail line from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic. Buhari performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the new rail line on February 9, 2021. Buhari’s former minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi revealed that he travelled to Niger Republic to beg the government of the West African country to allow Nigeria to build a railway for them.
There are claims that Buhari might be from Niger Republic. But such claims remain just insinuations. They have not been proved. However, speaking with The ICIR for the April 2021 report titled ‘Niger Republic as ‘centrepiece’ of Nigeria’s foreign policy under Buhari‘, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) Bola Akinterinwa, a professor, noted that Buhari has a ‘personal relationship’ with Niger Republic. But he did not explain the nature of the relationship.
Time to attend to cattle
From Buhari’s past and recent comments, it is not certain that the outgoing President would be interested in taking up an active role as ‘statesman’, like former civilian Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. Obasanjo and Jonathan have continued to offer themselves for service to Nigeria and the international community on different levels since they left Aso Rock.
It remains to be seen whether Buhari will do the same. As a former military head of state, before he returned as a civilian President in 2015, Buhari hardly attended meetings of the National Council of State – a body that includes the country’s past and present leaders.
The only activity Buhari has an interest in pursuing after leaving office is attending to his cattle. He said he has missed the activity.
Speaking on life after Aso Rock during the valedictory FEC meeting on May 24, Buhari said, “I will also be happy to do the many things that I have not been able to since May 29th, 2015. One of such is my favourite pastime of taking care of my cattle.”
