From
all indications, the leadership of the ruling APC has concluded plans
to field President Buhari as its presidential candidate in the 2019
general elections.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his family
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday said nothing
has changed its earlier resolve to field President Muhammadu Buhari for
reelection in the 2019 general elections despite his recent health
challenges.
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, national chairman of the party, in a chat
with Independent said he is standing by his earlier statement that the
party leadership will beg President Buhari to contest the 2019 election
irrespective of his health situation.
According to him, if the president accepts to contest “that
will be the greatest sacrifice he will be making for the progress,
growth and stability of this country and Nigerians will be the ultimate
beneficiary of that decision”.
The president recently returned to the country after over 40 days
in the United Kingdom where he was treated for an undisclosed ailment.
Despite several denials by aides of the president and ministers that he
was hale and hearty, the president during a meeting he had with
government officials upon his arrival said he had never been that sick
in his life.
“I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man, including in the military with its ups and downs”, he had said.
Though he has since resumed duties, the president also hinted that
he may be going back to the UK for more treatment in few weeks.
“I am feeling much better now. There may, however, be need for further follow up within some weeks,” he stated.
Independent also gathered that doctors attending to President
Buhari had advised him not to consider seeking re-election in 2019
giving the rigours of electioneering and the challenges he will face if
he eventually wins.
Odigie-Oyegun, however, added that while he and other patriotic Nigerians will persuade the president to run, “the decision on whether to seek re-election or not is ultimately his”.
He said as a retired military officer, President Buhari is not
afraid to sacrifice his health for Nigerians, saying that is the
orientation he has had all his life even as a military officer.
He added that it is imperative for the president to seek
re-election because the myriads of challenges facing the country cannot
be solved even in eight years.
“The President Buhari I know is not afraid to sacrifice his
health for the progress of this country. On my part and other
progressive-minded Nigerians who mean well for this country, we will beg
him to run again in 2019 because there is still a lot of work to be
done.
“Four years, even eight years is not enough to redress the
damages that have been done over the years. However, the ultimate
decision is his but Nigerians will be the greatest beneficiaries if he
accepts the challenge”, he said.