For peace to reign in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari should convince his cronies that in the national interest he would support the emergence of a younger person than seek a second term of office through the 2019 Presidential election.

According to a radical priest, Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, it is obvious that many Nigerians might not vote for Buhari, not because of his religion or tribe “but because it is perceived that people are hiding in his government to promote a regional and religious agenda.”

“Assuming his confidence to run is not in the ability of state apparatus to conjure results and he truly loses, shall there be peace? What if, despite the fact that the two major parties put forward Northern Muslims as presidential candidates and Nigerians revolt and vote someone in from a totally unknown party because of the amendment to the Electoral Act reordering the order of elections and because of the high political consciousness now, shall there be peace?” he asked.

He advised that President Buhari should at his age and with his present state of health “be thinking of having a well deserved rest.”

In a statement in Jos, Father Bassey, who is the International Director of Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria and Executive Secretary of Justice Development and Peace Commission, two agencies of the Catholic Church, urged Nigerians to see everyone first as a fellow citizen, and evaluate things objectively devoid of regional, religious and ethnic sentiments.

The cleric said: “What would happen if Mr. Buhari insists on contesting and loses at the polls? Ordinarily, President Buhari at his age and his state of health should be thinking of having a well deserved rest. At a certain age, neuro-scientists tell us that brain neurons begin to degenerate, which is why older people are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s.

“As we get older it is more difficult to have fresh ideas and be innovative, we rely more on residual knowledge and skills we acquired over the years. At an official age of 75 and his undisclosed health issues, President Buhari should know that except there are ulterior interests to be served, his putting himself forward cannot be altruistic.

“It will behove him therefore to talk sense to his very restive support base that for everyone’s good, he would rather support the emergence of a younger person than put himself forward, and that his restive support base should take things easy and accept the results whatever the outcome. After all, everything is God’s will.

“I am emphasising this because when Buhari lost in 2011, many innocent people died because of protests. And now that Fulani herdsmen are scattered all over the nooks and cranny of Nigeria well armed, and the security forces are helpless, shall there not be an eruption of killings all over the country if President Buhari loses.”

Bassey said if Nigeria was to remain as one nation, the citizens have to start sowing the seeds of mutual acceptance and respect.

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