Buhari Not Under ‘Foreign Pressure’ To Drop Second Term Bid, Says Presidency

The Presidency has condemned reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is under pressure from some foreign governments to drop his second term bid.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the claims including a report in a national daily are false.

Contrary to the claims, Mr Adesina said the European Union, United State of America, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, think highly of the President.

In any case, he believes the countries mentioned do not interfere in the democratic affairs of the country.

He said, “If there are quarters in which President Buhari is held in very high esteem, and the work he is doing for Nigeria highly lauded, it is in the countries mentioned.

“Some of them are equally bastions of democracy, and will not interfere in the democratic affairs of a sovereign country.”

President Buhari has since declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019 and while the decision has been faulted in some quarters, others believe it is for the best.

Adesina believes the President is in a great position to secure a second term.

“President Buhari gave deep thought to the prospect, before announcing his bid for a second term in office,” he said.

“It is only those who fear that their goose would be cooked, if they meet with him at the polls that are trying to dissuade him from running by all means.”