Buhari's health has improved and he can contest in 2019 - Pastor
Tunde Bakare, who once said Buhari's administration was a disappointment, has said the President Buhari's health condition has improved and he can re-contest.
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The Guardian reports that the preacher, who once said President Buhari's administration has been a disappointment, made this known at a townhall meeting in London, on Saturday, February 3, 2018.
“The president’s health has improved…he has a right to contest again if he wishes,” Bakare reportedly said.
Bakare, who ran with Buhari as a vice presidential candidate in 2011, was also said to have commended ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding the election after a peace deal had been brokered.
The aspiring presidential candidate also said he was happy that Buhari had embraced the need for restructuring while urging the federal government to restructure the country by encouraging each geo-political zone to develop.
This is not the Buhari I know - Bakare
Speaking on Channels TV on Sunday, January 28, 2018, Bakare said the person currently running the affairs of Nigeria is not the Buhari he knew.
He said, "no matter how you look at it, this is not the government we all hoped for. This is not what we thought the government that promised change in the beginning will perform so woefully. Any right thinking Nigerian will agree with that. They could have done better than what they have done so far. They themselves know that.
"I once did a video, 'The Buhari I know', and I meant every word I said in that video. I hope I will not be pushed to do a video of the Buhari I didn't know".
The man of God further said, "I had no reason at the time I ran with him to ever believe he was nepotic. There was no reason because he did say to me he will assemble the best and the brightest from the East, West, North and South of our country to fix the nation. But when I read what Obasanjo wrote, and I saw the list of key appointments made, one would begin to think whether they just put the things on his table to sign or is this just what he did deliberately. That is food for thought".
Tunde Bakare on restructuring
Bakare said with restructuring, Nigeria can leapfrog within 10 years the phases of industrialisation to become a global industrial powerhouse comprised of six geo-economic zones.
“The north-central zone can optimise its mechanised agricultural potential and harness the Rivers Niger and the Benue not just for irrigation but also for hydroponic farming.
“It can become a centre of world-class cattle ranching that will quell the menace of herdsmen attacks and also incubate allied opportunities such as meat, milk and leather processing.
“The zone can then transit into heavy industries, including steel manufacturing and auto-manufacturing, while also harnessing the rivers as inland waterways and tourist attractions.
“Similarly, the North-west zone can harness its vast arable land by deploying land-enhancing technologies for mechanised agriculture and cattle ranching, while also becoming Africa’s defence manufacturing hub.
“With these arrangements, the zone will be providing sufficient competitive impetus to revive its historical potential as a central hub in Africa’s textile industry.
“The North East will have the opportunity to redefine its identity from being a hotbed of insurgency to becoming a hub for cattle ranching, pharmaceutical and construction industries and its unique mineral resources such as clay, limestone and gypsum.
“The south-west can revive the vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, it will not just resuscitate its vast industrial and agro-allied manufacturing potential; it can become a global centre for warehousing and world-class sea and airports.
“Lagos state can consolidate its position as the African hub of global finance. Nigeria owes this region the urgent activation of the pragmatic approach to restructuring.
“This approach will see the zone progressively obtaining autonomy over these resources such that it can house a cluster of refineries and petrochemical industries.”
Earlier in 2018, Bakare announced that God instructed him to run president but he did not specify whether he would run in 2019.
Tunde Bakare also spoke about the letter written by the former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday January 23, 2018, where he accused Buhari of nepotism, urging him not to seek re-election in 2019.
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