The cleric made the revelation while speaking to members of his church in Lagos in January 2017.

“After I was called and I went to Abuja, and I sat with Mr President or General Buhari then, I said why me? ‘I’m not a politician’, ‘I do not belong to any political party’, ‘I am not carrying card of any party, why me’?'" Bakare said in an audio recording obtained by The Cable.

“He gave me all the reasons, they are written in the book; Strategic Intervention in Governance. He gave three reasons, but the one that made everyone around me that day to doff their hats was when he said: I am not as young as you think, and even Yar’Adua that is younger is dead.

“In case I die, I know you can hold the nation together. That was when Jim (he didn’t give his surname) removed his cap and said egbon, you must agree,” he added.

Bakare and Buhari contested on the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) but lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Buhari, who is now 74-years-old, eventually won the presidential election in 2015 along with running mate, Yemi Osinbajo.

ALSO READ: “I don’t regret what I did with Buhari in 2011”, Pastor Bakare says

Osinbajo is 59 years old and is currently acting as president while Buhari attends to health issues in the United Kingdom.

Buhari’s health has been a cause of concern since January when he left the country for a 10-day medical vacation.

ALSO READ: President Buhari is to return on Feb 6 - Presidency

Tensions were further heightened by the president’s decision to extend his medical vacation indefinitely.

The suddenness of the president’s trip and his refusal to speak to Nigerians has sparked fears and rumours that he might be in worse condition than the government is claiming.

Osinbajo, on Monday, February 6, however assured Nigerians that there’s no cause for alarm over the president’s health.

Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina also said that the president might return to the country sooner than expected.

Adesina however confessed that he doesn’t speak to the president daily, but rather speaks to the people around him.