President Muhammadu Buhari made a surprising statement yesterday, saying that he would rely on the people of the Niger Republic to defend him if anyone moved against him after leaving office.
He also said he had a good relationship with his neighbours and he would try to be as far away from Abuja as possible.
He made these remarks at the commissioning of the new corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in Abuja.
Buhari said: “That is why when I became the President, my first visit was to Niger, Chad, and Cameroon because, based on personal and national issues, the neighbourhood is very important.
“If you don’t secure the confidence and cooperation of your neighbours, you are in trouble, your children and grandchildren will be in trouble.
“So it is very good that I established a relationship with my neighbours. I said these few things about my personal belief because I have only six more days to go. And I try to plan to be as far away from Abuja as possible.
‘’Thank goodness, I come from an area which is far away from Abuja. I said if anybody forces me, I have a good relationship with my neighbours, Niger people will defend me.”
Buhari added that he deliberately shut the nation’s land borders to force Nigerians to patronise goods made in the country.
The President’s declaration, however, drew the ire of some groups and individuals, who described his stance as non-committal to Nigeria and that Nigerians would not miss him when he exits office.
They accused him of being more loyal to the Niger Republic than to Nigeria and of neglecting the security and economic challenges facing the country.
They also questioned his motive for closing the borders and his sincerity in fighting corruption and promoting good governance.
