Nigerians have reacted to a comment by President Muhammadu Buhari that he may likely relocate to the Niger Republic if he is disturbed in his home town Daura, Katsina State.
Buhari is due to handover power to Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on May 29, 2023 after ruling Nigeria for a two term of eight years as civilian leader.
Buhari has previously ruled Nigeria as military head of state in 1984.
Buhari settled in Kaduna State after his military service, enjoying his retirement before joining politics where he contested for the presidential election four times before his eventual winning in 2015.
While in Kaduna, Buhari contested the election under the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003 and 2007, and on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 and all lost.
In December 2014, Buhari emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after four political parties merged to create a platform for him to win the election in the 2015 general election.
The platforms that form the APC are: Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
During his acceptance speech, Buhari, at the International Conference Centre (ICC) said: “I belong to nobody, I belong to everyone,” an assertion people kept faith with until he spent six months as president without a cabinet.
Buhari’s inability to appoint ministers within six months, made several investors move out of Nigeria because, according to some pundits, there was no economic policy direction.
Recession ensued, insecurity plummete with several communities displaced by terrorists while thousands of Nigerians kidnapped with ransom paid in billions.
During Buhari’s eight years, poverty level rose to its peak in the most populous nation on earth with a ranking of being the poverty capital of the world.
Security, economic, social and political standards set by previous leaders were jettisoned by the Buhari’s administration for favoritism while the fight against corruption he promised went into a state of a shambles.
Amidst these, President Muhammadu Buhari purchased vehicles worth over N1.5 to Niger Republic, a story that was confirmed by Nigeria’s Minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed.
Niger Republic is a country Buhari is now projecting to stay after leaving office.
The plans by the Nigerian Government to build a rail line to Maradi in Niger Republic and the alleged payment of Niger Republic civil servants by the Buhari’s administration had earlier raised controversies.
But pundits say with his plans to retire to Niger Republic if he does not feel safe in Nigeria revealed why Nigeria is spending so much on that country by his administration.
Buhari had said that if Nigerians disturb him in Daura, he will leave for Niger Republic.
From Daura in Katsina State of Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic is 2 hours 57 minutes drive, about 179km.
The distance between Daura in Katsina State and Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is around 451km, about 8 hours 17 minutes drive.
But some Nigerians have taken to their Twitter handles, insisting that wherever Buhari moves to, there won’t be tranquility for him.
In reaction to Buhari’s planned settlement in Niger Republic, one of Buhari’s kingsmen, Mahdi Shehu, @shehu_mahdi tweeted: “NO HIDING PLACE: Wether at Abuja, Daura, Kaduna, Niger, London, Mars, Jupiter, etc, you won’t have that tranquility you desperately wish for. Not after your disastrous outing, your insensitive policies. Not after you destroyed businesses, institutions & relationships.”
@shehu_mahdi tweet generated a lot of reactions.
Also, the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore said there won’t be a hiding place for the Nigerian leader, Buhari.
Sowore, who faced alot of legal battles with the Buhari’s administration, in his Twitter handle, @YeleSowore, tweeted: “President @Mbuhari, sorry, there will be no hiding place for the wicked. You must pay for your crimes against humanity. Till the end of time, your atrocities will fish you out. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, it won’t matter where you hide, you will answer for your crimes.”
Sowore’s tweet also generated a lot of comments and reactions.
