December 26, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, said he would leave Abuja when his tenure ends on May 29, 2023, because he does not want to interfere with the government of his successor.
Buhari spoke at the last Christmas Day homage with the FCT community, comprising political, traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups as well as public servants.
The President was speaking to residents of FCT, led by the Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, who paid him the traditional Christmas Day homage.
He reiterated that he would return to Daura, Katsina State, his hometown, at the end of his tenure, adding that his decision not to make Abuja a permanent abode is to allow his successor a free hand to operate and run the affairs of government.
The President also told members of the FCT community that he has not built a new house in Daura or anywhere and hopes to live in the same house for many years.
Buhari also used the occasion to commend the FCT Minister, saying he retained the cabinet position for so long because of his honesty and hard work.
President Buhari noted that he is aware that the office of the Minister of the FCT is burdened with requests for land allocation from highly placed Nigerians, who often dispose of their allocations for financial gains and other priorities.
He shared an anecdote of how someone close to him asked him to speak to the FCT Minister to allocate him a plot of land; he will sell it and use the money to marry another wife.
‘‘I was overwhelmed by the priority of some people, who need a plot of land not to develop it but to sell it and marry another wife.
‘‘I don’t know how the Minister copes with such people, who are extremely serious about such things. And I think about 45 per cent of those who have been given land allocation in the FCT have sold it and didn’t develop it according to the laid down criteria (master plan),” he said.
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