TheCable

At least 189 groups, which worked for the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, have endorsed him for the 2019 election.

Abu Ibrahim, leader of the Buhari Support Group (BSG), disclosed this after meeting with Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja on Friday.

He said he led a delegation to Aso Rock to intimate the president on the activities of BSG.

“We came here as members of the national committee of the Buhari support group. This is an amalgamation of about 189 different support groups that had worked for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to win the 2015 general election,” he said.

“We have been holding meetings, discussing the problems of this country, Nigeria. So, we thought it was high time we met with the president to intimate him about the activities of the group.

“We discussed with him about the plans to improve the situation in Nigeria. Mr President was very pleased with our programmes.”

Ibrahim said though the issue of 2019 did not come up at the meeting, the group believes Buhari can ensure the progress and stability of the nation.

Asked why he has such conviction, Ibrahim said, “Because l believe in his philosophy and l believe he can solve the problems of this nation.”

Ahmed Lawan, majority leader of the senate, who joined BSG during th visit, also said Buhari would have no option but to contest the 2019 election.

Lawan said Buhari would have to “continue the good work he has started”.

“We have issues we think that the administration will be dealing with very successfully, now that we have economic recovery and growth plan which encapsulates everything we need to move Nigeria forward,” he said.

“I believe we are going to achieve those things that we set for ourselves at the moment.

“I also believe that the future is bright and by the grace of God, by 2019, we would have achieved so much in this administration and Mr President will have no option but continue the good work he has started.

“We will continue to identify with and support all the programmes that this administration has set forward.

“And l believe that we have every justification to be happy because, the president campaigned on three major pillars of anti- corruption, fighting the insecurity across the country and revitalizing the economy of Nigeria.

“It has been a very good journey so far and also we believe that Mr. President and Nigerians have a future beyond 2019. What he has started, by the grace of God, he should be able to complete, up to 2023.”

Many groups and individuals have endorsed Buhari for a second term but the president has not made his mind known about seeking reelection or ending his tenure in 2019.