Buhari says: I won’t exceed 2023, I swore by Quran

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) claimed Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, that he has sworn by the Holy Quran and cannot serve more than two terms in office.

He stated that leaders who take the oath of office, vowing with the Holy Book, must be careful not to abuse the people’s and God’s faith in them.

Buhari, who is on a two-day state visit to Nasarawa, stated this during a courtesy visit to the palace of Emir of Lafia, Sidi Muhammad 1, reaffirming that he had no intention of serving more than the constitutionally-mandated two terms as President.

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Thursday titled, ‘President Buhari: leaders who swear by the Holy Book must not abuse public office.’

Buhari was described in the statement as adding that traditional rulers were on a fixed tenure, while elected public officials were not.

“I cannot serve more than two terms,” the President stated, “and I have pledged by the Holy Quran that I will uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“Regardless of politics, if we are forced to swear by the Holy Quran, we must exercise caution.” We must be careful not to abuse the confidence that God has placed in us as leaders. I’ve seen previous governors here, and I’m hoping to become a former President.”

The Peoples Democratic Party, the largest opposition political party, claimed on Tuesday that the continued delay in signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was to blame.

It said, “Less than a year to the 2023 general elections, President Buhari and the APC are at it again. Expectedly, the current anti-people scheme against the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the APC administration is heightening apprehensions across the country of furtive plots by APC leaders to orchestrate a constitutional impasse that can railroad our democracy into an emergency tenure elongation, induced election postponement, self-succession or worst still an interim government situation.”

However, on Wednesday, a presidential source revealed that Buhari would sign the piece of legislation by noon on Friday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “All these anxieties will disappear by Friday afternoon. He will be signing the bill around noon of that day. I believe he has taken his time so that the Act can be as unassailable as possible.”