Presidency speaks on Buhari's ambitions for 2019 election

– Presidency replies Buba Galadima on his suggestions that Buhari would be
abandoned by his party if he decides to contest in 2019

– Garba Shehu describes such speculations as unfounded and utterly
ridiculous, saying that the president enjoys strategic relationship with
ordinary Nigerians

– He also recalled the Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari, which started in
2011

President Muhammadu Buhari

The presidency has denied reports that Muhammadu Buhari would be alone if he 

decided to run for the presidential office in 2019. 

Garba Shehu, the presidential spokesman, in a statement made available to 

NAIJ.com, said that Nigerians are the backbone of his mandate and the only reason 

he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of 

corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades. 

The presidency reacted to the allegations by a former CPC member, Alhaji Buba 

Galadima that President Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019. 

READ ALSO: Momodu disagrees with GEJ, lists reasons WHY he must return come 

2019

 On his own part, Mr Shehu defined his suggestions as unfounded and utterly 

ridiculous, adding that Galadima’s calculation and prediction is utterly confused 

and misleading. 

He said the masses are solidly behind Buhari because the incumbent president is 

not stealing their money and their future, that the president’s enormous goodwill 

remains ever strong because the people are convinced the president is acting in

their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.

The statement reads in part: “President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He 

enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as 

solid a the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no

job in this government that means the president is isolated he is putting himself up to 

ridicule.

 “Galadima cannot speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to Buhari is 

concerned. While acknowledging that Galadima was entitled to advance his own 

political agenda and didn’t have the right to decide for ordinary voters.” 

The presidential spokesman recalled that Buba Galadima’s disagreement with 

President Buhari was based on principle. He clarified that the Nigerian leader is 

committed to level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to 

injustice. 

Shehu added that Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari started in 2011 when a 

group within the party, orchestrated an organisational mess by which the CPC 

embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at 

the expense of those duly and democratically elected. 

READ ALSO: A message to President Buhari and ex-president Jonathan 

“Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the 

imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that he, as a democrat, would not 

suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests. Consequently, he dispensed 

with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 Elections 

without them. Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see 

what will happen to him,” concluded Mal. Garba Shehu. 

Meanwhile, the former president Goodluck Jonathan has denied his interest to run 

for the presidency in 2019.

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on November 20, called him an icon and 

added that Nigerians earnestly yearned for his return to government. 

Goodluck Jonathan, who turned 59 on November 20, was defeated by Muhammadu 

Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 election.