[Mhiz Rebecca]

President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Femi
Adesina, has described as a ‘misquote,’ a report that his
boss had pledged to serve for only one term. Adesina
said this while speaking with Channels Television via
Skype, from London, yesterday,
President Buhari, 75, had on Monday shortly before he
left for London, declared his intention to run for
presidential election in 2019.
Mr Adesina clarified that the President was misquoted
when he said he will not run for a second term because
of his age. He added that concerning the President’s
statement in 2011 when he said he will do just one term,
it is no longer ‘applicable.’
“No, that’s a misquote, he was never, never quoted that way.
“If there is anything on record like that, it is a misquote
because I was with him in South Africa when that issue came
when he said, oh, he wished he had become president at the
time he was a military governor; that he would have done a
lot for Nigeria.
“And the other happened in 2011. When he was running in
2011 he said, yes he would be a president for one term. But
did he win in that year? No.
“The victory came in 2015. So, that being quoted in 2011 is
not applicable again because he did not win that year.’’
Adesina said.
On the purported vote of no confidence allegedly passed
on the president by the Northern Elders Forum and the
Council for Shariah, Adesina said the two groups have
the constitutional right to support anybody vying for
political office in the country.
He cited an example of a former president of the country
who equally failed to secure the votes in his state and
region but ended up winning the presidential election
twice.
Asked whether Buhari obtained the support of his
doctors before the Monday declaration, Adesina replied
that the president is a responsible man who would never
go against the advice of his medical personnel.
“If there had been any warning, any red light from his doctor,
you know, he wouldn’t have ventured into it, unless you are
telling me there is something you know that I don’t know.
“But, I know the president; as a very, very responsible man.
If there was any warning, he wouldn’t do it.’’
Adesina disclosed that the president took him and other
aides unawares when he announced his intention to run
for another term in 2019.
He added the president’s declaration was in reaction to
appeals by millions of Nigerians.
“Yes, there had been a lot of appeals. I have served in
different meetings, with different interest groups and all of
them wanted him to run for second term in office.
“And, do you know that whenever the president reacted to
these groups, he would speak on all other points they raised
except the issue of second term. It has been like this in the
past one year even before he went for medical vacation…”