The Senate has distanced itself from alleged moves to keep President Muhammadu Buhari in power beyond 2023.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi made the Senate’s position known in a Wednesday statement.
Rumours had linked Sen. Ahmed Lawan (pictured), who is gunning for the position of Senate President in the yet-to-be inaugurated 9th National Assembly, to a plot to amend the constitution in order to extend Buhari’s term in office.
But in the statement, Abdullahi, who is the spokesman of the Senator Ahmad Lawan for Senate President Group, said that purveyors of the rumour were out to tarnish the good name of Lawan, who is the current Senate Leader.
Abdullahi said that Buhari had made it clear that he would retire quietly to his home at the expiration of his second term in 2023, and so the issue of tenure elongation does not arise.
The senator blamed the rumour on “evil and desperate politicians”.
He said, “This is just a very desperate attempt by detractors and some politicians who want to taint the good image of the Senate Leader, and the future Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
Read Also: Tribunal strikes out motion to serve Buhari, INEC, APC
“When we (Senators) met the President two days ago, he (Buhari) was very emphatic that he has stood for election five times, and this is his last.
“The President made it clear that he wants to retire quietly to his home, on the basis of which he is going to work very hard these four years since Nigerians have given him this opportunity, to leave a lasting legacy behind.
“The President’s statement clearly shows that he is a full democrat who knows that our constitution only provides for second term which he has gotten, and for which he is grateful to Nigerians.
“Therefore, to come back to say that Senator Ahmad Lawan will amend the constitution to keep him in office beyond 2023 is just the height of evil thinking and bad politics taken too far.
“The public should discountenace that and focus on supporting a very genuine and transparent process that will lead to the emergence of our own choice leaders as Senators-elect when the 9th Senate unveils.”
Leave a Reply