I will not go for third term, declares Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he will not seek another term in office as been canvassed by a group.

In a statement, his spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu said: “The Presidency wishes to correct internet-based gossip and un-informed media commentary regarding presidential term limits, given credence by so-called support groups, staging street demonstrations asking President Muhammadu Buhari to do a third term.

“There are no circumstances – nor set of circumstances – under which President Buhari may seek to amend the Constitution regarding the two-term term limit on holding office as President.

“President Buhari intends to serve his full second elected term in office, ending 2023 – and then there shall be a general election in which he will not be a candidate.

“There is not even the faintest possibility that this will change.

“It is important to note that there was a past attempt to change the Constitution to allow for the-then incumbent president to stand for a third term. That attempt was wrong, unconstitutional – and rightly rebuffed. No such attempt will happen under this President.

“President Buhari is a democrat. He respects the Constitution. Any activity aimed at altering the two-term limit will not succeed and shall never have his time nor support.”

Recall that a week ago, some persons claiming to be supporters of the President initiated a movement calling for a constitutional amendment that will allow him retain his seat for an additional four-year term, terminating 2027.

The little-known group known as “The Buharist Reporters” took to social media platform, Facebook, to announce their initiative. 

In August last year, a senator, Lawal Yahaya Gumau, as candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Bauchi South Senatorial District bye-election, stunned listeners at a campaign rally that had some former and serving governors, said if elected into the Senate, he would work towards the amendment of the Constitution to make President Muhammadu Buhari president for life.

Then a member representing Toro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said his only mandate for aspiring to go to the Senate is to protect Buhari’s interest.

His words, “I, Lawal-Yahaya Gumau, want you to know that the mandate that will be given to me on Saturday is to go and protect Buhari’s interest in the Senate. This is the only mandate that I will be going to the Senate with, having fulfilled every other mandate to the best of my ability while in the House of Representatives for eight years.

“By God’s grace, we will amend Nigeria’s Constitution to allow Buhari to be President for the remaining years of his life. He will only cease to be President when God takes his life.

“Obasanjo tried all his best for the constitution to be amended to allow him go for a third term, but God didn’t approve of it because of its lack of sincerity. What is now needed in Nigeria is to protect Buhari’s interest and that is what we will do.”