Senator blasts political elite asking president to seek re-election

The Senator representing Kaduna central in the upper legislative chamber, Shehu Sani, has blasted the political elite calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a re-election in 2019.

Buhari was elected President in March of 2015 and has only seen out half of his first term.

However, there have been growing calls from a section of the political class asking Buhari to go one more term in spite of his failing health.

Two serving Governors and a host of APC chieftains have all but asked Buhari to seek a re-election after Aisha Alhassan who is a serving minister in the Buhari cabinet, sensationally declared her support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

However, Sani who is an avowed foe of one of the Governors who recently declared unflinching support for a Buhari re-election, says some of the political elite are only looking to preserve their meal tickets in 2019.

"Whether Baba will seek re-election or not remains his individual decision to make", Sani said in a Facebook post. "He is old enough and has been in politics and government longer than anyone in his party or cabinet as to know what to do and the right time to do it.

"He is the best person to judge and decide for himself what to do. The nation still needs his services but it's still up to him to decide if he is willing and fit to provide more or not. The political elite in habit of applying pressure are pressure cookers and they see Baba as a meal and a mill".

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Sani also added that the reasons the masses want Buhari to continue beyond 2019 are different from those of the political elite.

"Baba is like a good driver who has driven for a long distance and so much cherished by his passengers, whether he is willing to cover more distance it's best decided by him. Every leader chooses his seat and space in the ship of his and his country's history.

"The reasons the masses want Baba to continue is not the same as with the reason the elite want Baba to seek re-election .The former see him as a good force who should continue to lead them to the land of their dreams or the promised land;the latter see him as the lifebuoy for their political survival and relevance".

Buhari is yet to publicly declare whether he'll seek a re-election or not.

The president only just returned to Nigeria from London where he was tending to his failing health.

Pundits have suggested that Buhari shouldn't seek a re-election in the face of his health battles.

However, Aso Rock sources posit it's still too early for Buhari to rule himself out of the next presidential race or not; given the intense power struggles his announcement is likely to birth--either way.