Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that a youth will be his successor in office come 2023 presidential election.
The president who also called on Nigerian youths to get themselves ready to take on the mantle of leadership of the country said this on Friday when he received All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leaders from the six geo-political zones at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He advised the nation’s youth to brace up for leadership roles saying: “whether we like it or not, we will someday hand over to youth.”
The president said: “with all certainty, someday you will have to take up the mantle of leadership in this country, and you should be prepared for the huge responsibilities.”
The president, therefore, advised the younger generation to keep a broader view of the country as one entity, and to continuously de-emphasise ethnic and religious backgrounds in nation-building.
“And you have to brace up for leadership. Some interest groups will come up with ethnic, religious issues, but you have to look at the broader picture. We had a civil war that consumed over two million Nigerians, and we learnt our lessons. Nigeria is one country, and no one should take our firmness for granted.”
President Buhari also said he took interest in politics after a clean bill on his integrity by those who detained him after the 1985 military coup and who thoroughly checked his record as governor of the North-east, Minister of Petroleum and Head of State and found nothing incriminating.
“After I was released and nothing was found on me, I took an interest in politics. This is what pushed me into partisan politics; to serve with integrity. So, I decided to try leadership as a civilian, after taking off the military uniform.”
On his second tenure, the president gave the assurance that he would be more firm, focused and relentless in delivering results, especially in securing the country, stimulating the economy to work for all, and fighting corruption.
“I am currently serving my last term in office. I swore by the Constitution to defend the country, and I will do the needful for the country.”
