2019: I Declared for Second Term Because Nigerians Were Taking too Much About my Intention - Buhari | CNR

Archbishop Justin Welby presenting his new book to President Mohammadu Buhari during the visit

President Mohammadu Buhari has given reason for declaring his intention to run for second term in office, saying it was because Nigerians were talking too much about intention.

The President who is currently in London on official visit where he is expected to hold bilateral talks on Nigeria-British relations with Prime Minister Theresa May and attend a Commonwealth meeting, made the disclosure on Monday when he received the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby at his residence in London.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina quoted the President as telling the top British cleric that he declared his intention before his London trip because there was too much speculations about whether or not he would run.

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"I declared before leaving home because Nigerians were talking too much about whether I would run or not. So, I felt I should break the ice. We have many things to focus on, like security, agriculture, economy, anti-corruption, and many others. We needed to concentrate on them, and politics should not be a distraction. The majority of Nigerians appreciate what we are doing, and that is why I am re-contesting", the Nigerian leader told archbishop Welby.

While highlighting the various achievements of his administration, Mr. Buhari told his guest that his government's policies in agriculture has prompted even professionals to voluntarily embrace agriculture.

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"We have cut the importation of rice by about 90%, saving billions of dollars in the process. People who rushed into petrol money have now gone back to agriculture. Even professionals have gone back to the land. Nigeria should be able to feed itself comfortably soon. I am so pleased," the President said".

On the war against insurgency, he stressed the need for continuous education of the people, "so that they can be free from religious manipulation," adding that no true religion advocates the hurting or killing of the innocent.

Reacting to his guest's comment on Farmers/Fulani Herdsmen crisis in different part of Nigeria, President Buhari told the Archbishop that the conflict between farmers and herdsment is older than him.

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"The problem is even older than us. It has always been there, but now made worse by the influx of armed gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African sub-region. These gunmen were trained and armed by Muammar Gadaffi of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram. Herdsmen that we used to know carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way, but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons. The problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But we are working on solutions."

He regretted that "irresponsible politics" has been brought into the farmers/herders’ crisis, but assured that enduring solutions would be found, and justice done to all concerned.

Speaking on Leah Sharibu, the remaining Dapchi schoolgirl who denied freedom by the Islamist terrorist group, Boko Haram for refusing to denounce her Christian faith, the president said he was managing the matter carefully.

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"We are managing the matter quietly. Making noise would not help. We are collecting as much intelligence as possible, working with the Red Cross and other international organizations. There are too many fraudulent people around, who claim they can do this and that. We won't deal with them. That was how we got the Dapchi girls back, and the Chibok girls".

Archbishop Welby expressed his joy for meeting President Buhari, who he noted he has deep respect for, and wished the President well in his re-election bid.