President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, July 30, 2019, said he would not name who will likely replace him in 2023.
He spoke while receiving the members of the Progressive in Academics (Pro-Acad) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The group had asked him to start grooming a youth who will replace him when his second term tenure expires in 2023.
Buhari said that identifying anybody as his successor will create problems for him.
He also warned that nobody should think he can just become a President overnight.
Recalling his three previous failed attempts, he said that to become a President takes a lot of hard work.
He said: “Succession, to me this is very funny. Because if I did find anybody I will create more problems for him or her. Let those who want to be President try as much as I did.
“I believe those who are interested need to know that I tried three times and the fourth time I thank God and technology, PVC. Before the they announced the result on radio and television, they got the result and they said anybody who disagreed should go to court. Most of my supporters are looking for next day’s meal, they don’t have money to give to lawyers. So I said God dey!
“So the fourth time because of technology they couldn’t rig the elections, so I won. So this time around I tried to work hard.
“So I think you have more to do as intellectuals to make sure you correct Nigeria’s intellectual development, it is very important for the next generation.
“A lot of our young people are taking things for granted. Imagine to contest elections three times and ending up in the Supreme Court, it takes a lot of conviction and hard work. But people take things for granted, they say I want to be the president. As if I just to closed my eyes and opened and I got it.” he said
Speaking on the issue of education and the Al-majiri in the country the president said: “People have gravely criticizing the Federal Government for the Almajiri but that is the responsibility of state governments which means state governments are not doing their jobs… People don’t seem to care about what the constitution have done…” he added
The President went on “Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for progress, they decided not to go back to the dark days of impunity and corruption.
Education remains a top priority for our government.
“In the last four years, we injected over N1 trillion into education through the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, and our needs assessment interventions.
“We also released N25 billion to public universities to pay earned academic allowances to lecturers. Of course, you are all aware of the rot we uncovered at JAMB and many other institutions.
“Our home grown school feeding programme covering more than ten million children couple with our social investment initiative has encouraged many parents to send their children to school and also pay for more teachers in classrooms.”
The President said that in the next four years, his administration will continue with the work to transform the sector bearing in mind the high population growth rate, financial challenges and security issues especially those grossly affected areas.
“Simply put our focus and agenda can only be sustained if we have educated and secured society.
“Therefore, we have no choice but produce more engineers, technicians, doctors, nurses and the teachers. To achieve this, we shall continue to seek your advise and guidance.
I am pleased to note some of the ideas you proposed, this submission is timely as we prepare for the next level.” he said
Bolariwa Bolaji, the Convener of Pro-Acad, earlier noted that there is need to accredit secondary and primary schools in the country to address infrastructural deficiencies.
He urged the President to take steps towards taking Al-majiri off the streets.
The group also called for redenomination of the Nigerian currency to strengthen the naira.
It also urged the President to revoke oil well licences issued to individuals.
Such licences, the group, said should be given to state governments.
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