“No Hiding Place For You”–Shehu Replies Buhari

AHEAD of the May 29th, 2023 handover of the current administration to the incoming government, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he might vacate to the Niger Republic where he would have serenity and peace of mind after eight years of serving the people.

Buhari who appealed for Nigerian to pardon his shortcomings in the course of discharging his duties said that he could not wait to go home after eight years of being at the helm of affairs in the country, serving.

President Buhari while speaking at the final Sallah homage, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said: “I think this is a very good coincidence for me to say goodbye to you and to thank you for tolerating me for more than seven and half years now. I assure you, I have deliberately arranged to be as far away from you as possible not, because I don’t appreciate the love you’ve shown to me, but because I think I’ve gotten what I have asked and I would rather quietly retire to my hometown.

“I can’t wait to go home…I deliberately arranged to be as far away as possible from you people.”The outgoing President described himself as a lucky man to have led Nigeria in various capacities as governor, minister, head of state, and elected two-term president.

“I am counting the days,” the President enthused. “Democracy is a good thing otherwise how can somebody from the other side be a president for two terms? My hometown in the Niger Republic is eight kilometers.

“I honestly consider myself very lucky. I was made a governor, Minister of Petroleum, Head of State in uniform, then after three attempts, God through technology and the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), I became president. I tried 2007, 2011 and 2015 and ended up at Supreme Court three times.”

He also reprimanded those who claimed that they cannot get justice at the court, recallng that all Supreme Court justices in all the election cases he took to court were Muslims from the North and yet he lost, saying: “Thanks to technology and the PVC”, which made it possible for him to be president in 2015.

“Having been a Governor, Minister and the President twice, I think God has given me an incredible opportunity to serve as your president. And I thank God for that. So, please whoever feels I have done wrong to him, we are all humans.

“There is no doubt I hurt some people and I wish you will pardon me. And those that think that I have hurt them so much, please pardon me.” The President, who also spoke with newsmen shortly after observing the Eid prayer, said the future of democracy as a system of government is bright, adding that as he prepares to leave office in a little over a month, he feels satisfied and duly assured that Nigerians would defend the system against all threats.

“Nigerians appreciate the stability of democracy. The outcome of the elections, in which more than 10 governors failed to make it to the Senate, sent a clear message that ordinary Nigerians know the power of their votes and how to use it.

“Nigerians cherish democracy. They have shown their love for it and will defend it against real or perceived threats. They will continue to vote one way or the other depending on their preferences,” he stated. President Buhari assured that the May 29th hand over date remains sacrosanct.

“God willing, nothing will stop it,” he added. On His plans after leaving office, the President said: “I thank God for what He has done for me personally and for what He has enabled us to achieve. I am looking forward to returning to my town, to be as far away as I can from Abuja so that the in-coming President will have the time and the space to take decisions without my distracting him.”

Reacting, Mahdi Shehu has stated that there would be no hidden place for President Buhari when he completes his tenure on May 29th, 2023.

Shehu was specific in affirming his stance against the statement of Buhari who says he would vacate Daura for Niger or other places where he would have peace of mind.

Mahdi Shehu said, “No Hiding Place” Wether at Abuja, Daura, kaduna, Niger, London, Mars, Jupiter, etc, you won’t have that tranquillity you desperately wish for. Not after your disastrous outing, your insensitive policies. Not after you destroyed businesses, institutions & relationships”.