Buhari meets Boris Johnson, to discuss third-term IPOB and Insecurity

-O. Adejo

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, held bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda

President Buhari reiterated his commitment to upholding the Nigerian Constitution’s maximum term limit, claiming that the first person to seek a third term did not fare well.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly planned to amend the constitution in 2006 to extend his tenure.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the PM, who is not familiar with the maximum two-term limit, had asked if President Buhari would run for office again.

“Can you give me another term?” No! The first person to try it failed miserably.”

Concerning the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, not being allowed to see his lawyers privately, the President refuted such allegations, saying the detained separatist was being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things he had been saying against Nigeria in Britain.”

Regarding the Prime Minister’s desire to assist Nigeria in the area of security, the President stated that helping to stabilise Libya could be a good first step, as the fall of Muammar Gadaffi after 42 years in power unleashed his armed guards on Sahelian countries, “and they are causing havoc everywhere, as the only thing they know how to do is shoot guns.”

On the Boko Haram insurgency, President Buhari stated that serious efforts are being made to educate the public on the fact that only a careless person could kill innocent people and say Allah Akbar (God is Great). Justice is God. You can’t blame God for the deaths of innocent souls. And the education process is working; people now see Boko Haram as anti-God rather than religious.”

PM Johnson expressed his delight at the good news on trade between the two countries, adding that the UK was lowering tariffs on some goods destined for Nigeria.

The Prime Minister expressed sympathy for recent attacks in Nigeria, particularly on churches.