President Muhammadu Buhari has repeatedly stated that after his term ends on May 29, 2023, he will return to his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, to relax and avoid issues.
“Thank you very much for taking your time to come and visit me and I congratulate you for this great day (Christmas). I have promised a lot of my colleagues that I will try and be as far away as possible form Abuja when I leave office, so that nobody can create any problem for me anymore,” he said.
Buhari added,
“I will be in Daura, which is on the border with Niger Republic and I think in spite of technology, I will be safe enough there.”
He expressed his gratitude to Nigerians for their support, trust, and for allowing him to govern them.
Buhari explained to the team, led by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mohammed Bello, that he took his time to visit all 774 Local Government Areas of the nation while running for president from 2003 to 2011, and he received resounding public support.
However, the president took the opportunity to reassure Nigerians that he would not hold office for a single day longer than the time allotted for his term.
“I thank God that before the 2019 elections I went round the whole of the States and in 2003-2011, I went to all the Local Governments in this country and I thank Nigerians, the people who turned up in every Local Government were more than what anyone can buy. So, I was pleased with the way Nigerians highly treated me and accepted me. In five months’ time, I will happily retire according to the provisions of the constitution of the country and go back home,” he added.
Earlier, the delegation’s head and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bello, declared that because the President serves as the Governor General of the FCT, it has become essential for a group of FCT citizens to honor him during holidays like Christmas and Sallah.
“It is not surprising to pay such visits because constitutionally, as the Governor General of the FCT, you are also the head of the administration of the FCT but you have graciously delegated that to me. Today marks a milestone for us because in 2020 and 2021 we could not pay such visits due to the emergence of coronavirus,” he added.
He said:
“This also presents the last Christmas that we are going to have an opportunity as residents of the FCT to come and pay you homage because in five months’ time, your tenure would have ended and the next Christmas will be under a new President.
“So, we use this opportunity to thank God almighty for having made it possible for us to witness several Christmas celebrations under your leadership. I wish to also on behalf of the entire residents of the FCT, wish you well and pray for God almighty to grant you long life, useful and healthy retirement in the next few months. We want to also extend our appreciation for what you have so far done for the country.”
The Vice President of the Association, Rev. Stephen Panya-Baba, spoke on behalf of Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, who thanked God for maintaining Nigeria’s unity and hailed President Buhari for his tireless efforts on behalf of the country’s advancement.
“We want to reassure you that as your administration comes to a close, the Christian community is praying for God to bless your efforts and that your desire to see the suffering of the people of this country alleviated will start to bear fruit.
“We are not unaware of the challenges that you continue to face especially security challenges which hav become a very persistent problem in our nation today and we are praying and we have not given up hope and we want to encourage you to continue doing your best and we believe God will one day intervene and do what man cannot do,” the Cleric stated.
Next year’s nationwide general elections were something he hoped would go smoothly.
The largest Christmas card ever presented to the President on behalf of Federal Capital Territory citizens was the event’s high point.
