From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, said he would not live in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after quitting office in May 2023 to avoid problems.
While thanking Nigerians for the support extended to him during his two-term reign, the president said he would retire to his hometown in Daura, Katsina State to rest from the rigours of his office.
He spoke, yesterday, in Abuja when he hosted FCT residents on Christmas homage, saying he would not stay in office a day longer than what was stipulated in the constitution..
“Thank you very much for taking your time to come and visit me and I congratulate you for this great day (Christmas). I have promised a lot of my colleagues that I will try and be as far away as possible form Abuja when I leave office, so that nobody can create any problem for me anymore. I will be in Daura, which is on the border with Niger Republic, and I think in spite of technology I will be safe enough there.”
The president expressed his appreciation to Nigerians for trusting, supporting and giving him the opportunity to serve as their leader.
He told the delegation, led by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, that while campaigning for office in 2003, he took his time to visit the 774 local government areas of the country and he got overwhelming support from the people.
“I thank God that before the 2019 elections I went round the whole of the states and in 2003-2011, I went to all the local governments in this country and I thank Nigerians, the people who turned up in every local government were more than what anyone can buy. So, I was pleased with the way Nigerians highly treated me and accepted me. In five months time, I will happily retire according to the provisions of the constitution of the country and go back home.”
Bello said the visit was because he is the governor general of the FCT.
“It is not surprising to pay such visits because constitutionally, as the Governor General of the FCT, you are also the head of the administration of the FCT but you have graciously delegated that to me. Today marks a milestone for us because in 2020 and 2021 we could not pay such visits due to the emergence of Coronavirus.”
The minister wished the President long life and a successful retirement as his tenure gradually comes to an end next year.
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, represented by his deputy, Rev Stephen Panya-Baba, thanked God for sustaining Nigeria’s unity. He also prayed or successful and peaceful general elections across the country next year.
“We want to reassure you that in the twilight of your administration, that the Christian community is fully in support of you and praying that God will bless your effort and that this desire you have to see that the sufferings of the citizens of this nation is alleviated will begin to yield fruits.
“We are not unaware of the challenges that you continue to face, especially security challenges which have become a very persistent problem in our nation today and we are praying and we have not given up hope. We want to encourage you to continue doing your best and we believe God will one day intervene and do what man cannot do,” the cleric said.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of a giant Christmas card by FCT Minister to the President on behalf of residents of the FCT.