Buhari finally explains why he will contest in 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he declared his
intentions to run for another term in office on Monday, April 9, 2018,
during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).

He spoke while receiving the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace
Justin Welby in London Wednesday.

Buhari said: "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 President recounted some successes of the administration to his
guest, with whom he has built a deep friendship in recent times, and
was quite particular about strides in agriculture.

"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.

Responding to his guest's comment on the clashes between herdsmen and
farmers in different parts of Nigeria, the President submitted:

"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."

President Buhari lamented 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.

On Leah Sharibu, the schoolgirl from Dapchi still being held by
insurgents, reportedly because she refused to renounce her Christian
faith, the President said:

"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 said it was always a delight to see President Buhari,
"whom I have tremendous respect for".

"You have my best wishes on your recent decision. I read your
declaration speech. We are neutral as a church, but we will pray for
you. Great statesmen are those who run for the good of their country.
We will be praying for you."

The Archbishop presented President Buhari with a copy of his recent
book, 'Reimagining Britain. Foundations for Hope.'