A former Minister of Petroleum and Energy, and a strong supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof Tam David-West, has given reason he would not want the president to return to power in 2919.
David-West also told the President that the proposed plan to establish cattle ranches across the country would justify the claim in some quarters that he (Buhari) wants to islamise Nigeria.
He noted that the implication of such move would be grave, and added that he was surprised and saddened by the decision.
Speaking with The Sun, where he outline why Buhari should not return in 2019, the former Minister noted that people are suffering as nothing seems to be working in the country.
“Why I am saying no (to Buhari’s second term) is that I ask myself as a supporter of Buhari: Are the people happy?
“A good friend is not one who praises you, but the one who tells you the truth. There is no question that people are not happy. There is no question that the economy is not doing well.
“There is no question that a lot of people are suffering. So, if he wants to run for a second term, it will be on his ticket. Nobody imposed Buhari on Nigerians.
“People voted for him. Get the ticket first and when you take the ticket, let the people be happy. Where there are areas of discontents and concerns, try to take active steps to correct them so that you can give greater happiness to greater number. When Nigerians are happy, they will vote for you.”
“In the first place, I am surprised that the government has not seen the implications. If I was Buhari, I would be the last person to agree to ranch in non-ranching areas.
“First, you were accused that you wanted to Islamise Nigeria and it is completely false. If you now allow different states in different parts of the country, to establish special places for ranching, would people not say it is a means of establishing colonies for Islamic groups?
“The implications will be very grave. In any case, I am so surprised and sad. When I was a child in Port Harcourt, we had all these cattle ranchers; we would even play with them. Nobody had trouble. I still believe some politicians are behind all these.
“But to establish special areas for ranching in different parts of the country is a dangerous move to make.
“People may misinterpret it that he wants to Islamise, especially when it was quoted that Uthman Dan Fodio, that led the Jihad of 1804, said he wanted to deep Quran in the sea in Lagos, coming from Sokoto.”
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