TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has told the Nigerian community in Cote d’Ivoire, that he came to their meeting with their governors as “it may earn another vote for me in the future”.

This is the strongest hint yet from the president that he may seek re-election in 2019 — even if it came in the form of a joke.

Buhari gave the hint on Tuesday night in Abidjan where he attended the 5th European Union-African Union (EU-AU) summit.

While apologising for keeping them waiting, he said he wanted governors Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom state and Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state to be at the meeting.

Buhari said: “First, I want to apologise for keeping you for too long sitting. This is because I insisted on the governors attending this meeting. This is why I came along with them so that when we are going to meet you, when you are going to meet the rest of Nigerians if you tell them that their governors were in the company of the president, I think that will be another vote for me in the future. I’m very pleased that they were able to turn up.”

The hall erupted in laughter — but the undertone was not missed.

He also gave a cryptic message on Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state and a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I also thank our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has brought me a very beautiful piece of information which I was not aware of it until I sat down and read it this evening (Tuesday night). Thank you very much for your hard work and I will discuss that paper with you,” he said, without disclosing what the information was about,” Buhari said.

There had been rumours that Tinubu might not support the re-election of Buhari.