Why I Won’t Name My Likely Successor Now- Buhari

“I’d rather keep my mouth shut. Let those who would want to be president try as much as I did.”

With these words Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari declined to name who will likely succeed him at the expiration of his second term in 2023.

A group, the Progressives in Academics (Pro-Acad), on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, had, among other demands, asked Buhari to start grooming a youth who would replace him when his tenure runs out in 2023.

But the president, who digressed from his written speech, said that naming anybody as his likely successor would create problems for him or her. Nobody should think he or she could just become president overnight, saying the endeavour required a great deal of conviction and hard work.

Buhari, who said that some Nigerians took things for granted expecting success to come to them on a platter of gold, recalled how his three previous attempts at the presidency failed.

“To me, this is very funny. I think if I identify anybody I’d create more problems for him or for her. So, I’d rather keep my mouth shut.

“I believe that those who are interested know that I tried three times. I thank God and technology, permanent voter’s card. Before, they just went to the television and read the results. They said anybody who disagreed should go to court.

“A lot of our young chaps are taking things for granted. Imagine contesting election three times, and ending up in the Supreme Court three times. It needs a lot of conviction and hard work. But people take success for granted. They think I just closed my eyes and I got it,” the president said.

On the group’s proposal aimed at tackling the challenge of Almajiri system in the country, President Buhari blamed state governments.

He said that education remained his government’s priority, with N1trillion so far injected into the sector in the last four years. This, he said, was done through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) and the needs assessment interventions.

“In the next four years, we shall continue with the work to transform the sector, bearing in mind our high population growth rate, financial challenges and security issues, especially those grossly affected areas. Simply put, our focus and agenda can only be sustained if we have an educated and secured society.

“We have no choice but produce more engineers, technicians, doctors, nurses and the teachers. To achieve this, we shall continue to seek your advice and guidance. I am pleased to note some of the ideas you proposed, this submission is timely as we prepare for the next level,” the president said.