2019: If Buhari loves the truth, he’ll not contest; he’ll allow ‘real politicians’ to run- Akinjide

Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Nigeria’s Second Republic, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard calls for him to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Akinjide stated that Buhari had already achieved his goal of becoming president a second time, and that it was time for him bow out honourably and leave room for “real politicians” to manage the affairs of the nation.

He said should Buhari decide to disregard the better judgement of not contesting the 2019 election, and run instead, “it will be a big joke”.

Read also: Nigeria@57: Buhari’s ‘rabidly parochial, clannish’ speech was a missed opportunity- Ozekhome

Akinjide said, “I should have preferred that (since) Buhari has got what he wanted, he should go and rest while others who are real politicians should come to power. But people don’t listen to the truth; they want half-truth and half falsehood. I just laugh at that. If he does that, it will be a big joke.

“I don’t know but it is going to be a very big joke”.

He also spoke about Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary, saying he was not proud of where the country was.

“Nigeria should have done better than what we have now. We should have been the best country in Africa. Sometime ago, I went to a university in Cape Town to deliver a lecture, and after the lecture, I answered some questions. It’s a pity, Nigeria should have been like America, Canada or Australia, but we are not. I am not happy about that at all”, the foremost lawyer said.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now