Ebun Francis || President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in far away Abidjan, the Ivory Coast Capital gave the clearest indication that he may be seeking re-election in 2019 when he told the Nigeria community that he decided to be in the company of some state governors for the meeting because he may need their votes in future.
The President who is in Abidjan for the 5th European Union-African Union (EU-AU) Summit, in his opening remarks apologised for keeping those that came for the interactive session waiting but explained that he insisted on having the governors with him for the meeting so that Nigerians in Côte d’Ivoire from the two states will be happy that he was accompanied by their governors.
The President said, “First, I want to apologise for keeping you for too long sitting, this is because I insisted on the governors attending this meeting.
“This is why I came along with them so that when we are going to meet you when you are going to meet the rest of Nigerians if you tell them that their governors were in the accompany of the President, I think that will be another vote for me the future.
“I am very pleased that they were able to turn up,” the President said amidst laughter from those in attendance.
The President attended the meeting accompanied by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State.
The presence of Tinubu in President Buhari’s entourage to Ivory coast is an indication that he is preparing for the 2019 elections, according to political observers and the President went out of his way to thank the Lagos based politician for an information he provided in the course of the trip.
The President said, “I also thank our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has brought me a very beautiful piece of information which I was not aware of it until I sat down and read it this evening (Tuesday night). Thank you very much for your hard work and I will discuss that paper with you.”
Tinubu’s support will crucial for President Buhari’s re-election bid in 2019.