We don’t trust Buhari to keep promise of not seeking third term—CAN

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Wednesday reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Year message to Nigerians, saying it was neither eye-catching nor impressive.

The Christian body faulted the President’s position on security, economy, and rule of law, stressing that his speech contradicted the realities experienced in the country in these areas last year.

CAN said it would treat the President’s declaration of his intention to stand down from politics in 2023 as mere political rhetoric, adding he had made similar promises in the past but recanted his words when the time for action presented itself.

It also lampooned President Buhari over his silence on religious persecution and other related crimes in the country.

CAN’s Vice Chairman (Northern region), Rev. John Hayab, in a chat with journalists, said: “It is unfortunate that New Year speeches by our political leaders have become objects of mockery and deceit.

“We look forward to the 2020s as new opportunities for the government to give some bite to its promises. Over the years, we have read and heard many New Year messages that were never translated into actions.

“Our leaders have become so insincere with their speeches that the ordinary Nigerian finds nothing spectacular in them.

READ ALSO: PDP asks Buhari to issue fresh New Year message to Nigerians

“The President said he will be standing down from politics in 2023, but we consider that announcement as a political statement. He once told Nigerians that he won’t be running for President after 2011 polls, but he ran in 2015. President Buhari had also said he would do only one term in office but he is on a second term today.

“So until he really shuns the ‘enemies’ of our nation, who are always urging him to recant his promises, and actually stands down from politics in 2023, we won’t take him seriously on this matter.

“If the Federal Government was sincere about the true state of insecurity in the country, it won’t be praising itself the way it has done in the President’s new year speech because Nigerians are still feeling unsafe and living in fear of kidnapping, highway robbery, banditry, and herdsmen attacks.

“We are all aware of the Christmas day killings and several other attacks by insurgents in the Northeast region. These clearly show that violent extremism and the networks that help finance and organise terror in the country are yet to be dismantled by the security agencies.”

“So the government must first come clean and be honest about the true state of insecurity in the country before its lasting solution can be found and adopted for the good of all.

“It was absurd for the President to have said government’s actions at all times have been governed by the rule of law. If that was the case, all the drama we witness about Sheikh El-Zakzaky, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), and Omoyele Sowore would have been unnecessary.

“As we speak, there are many more unreported cases of human rights abuses perpetuated by government agencies but the President merely glossed over the issue as though all is well.

“The Federal Government is already failing in the area of providing room for well-meaning citizens of goodwill to engage with it and promote dialogue, partnership and understanding.”

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