Niger people will defend me – Buhari Under Fire over Comment
President Muhammadu Buhari has been blasted by social media users over his comment that the people of the Niger Republic would defend him if anyone moved against him after leaving office on May 29.
At the commissioning of the new corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in Abuja, the president who has about 5 days to go said he was speaking his mind, and reiterated his earlier decision to be far away from Abuja at the end of his administration.
He said, “That is why when I became the President, my first visit was to Niger, 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.
“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. 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. I said if anybody forces me, I have a good relationship with my neighbours, Niger people will defend me.”
The comment which did not go down well for some has been reacted to by some Twitter users See reactions
Meanwhile, the President has also said he had shut the nation’s land borders to encourage Nigerians to grow food themselves, and that despite early backlash, Nigerians had come to embrace the decision.
His comment also drew the attention of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum, MBF, which described his stance as non-committal to Nigeria and that Nigerians would not miss him when he exits office.
Reacting to Buhari’s statement yesterday, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, described Buhari’s remarks as a sad commentary on his administration, noting that Nigerians would not miss him when he exits office.
Afenfere’s General Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said: “As I said in a recent interview, the only thing Nigerians are expecting from Buhari is his exit, so all this dry comic banter is of no moment.
‘’It is a sad commentary on his administration that he could bring the giant of Africa and the awesome Commander-in-Chief of West Africa, through ECOMOG, on its knees before the boys even for personal refuge. “As he steps out, it is unfortunate that the President is unperturbed that his feet are still being soiled by the blood of citizens in Kaduna, Plateau and everywhere in the hands of terrorists.
In his reaction, the National President of the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Dr Bitrus Pogu, said: “I recall that he had some time ago said if Nigerians disturb him after leaving office he would relocate to the Niger Republic.
“This latest statement means that he meant what he said before, that he would relocate if disturbed. It simply shows that he is not committed to the Nigerian state and his commitment lies elsewhere. And, unfortunately, Nigerians elected such a president who presided over them for eight years. So we have to think wisely next time in selecting who would lead us. That person’s commitment has to be weighty.
What is your take on Buhari’s comment that the people of Niger Republic would defend him if anyone moved against him after leaving office?
