The Only Nigerian President Who Completed 2 Terms, Picked Successor Who Also Won Election Since 1999

If president Muhammadu Buhari successfully chooses his successor as he requested from the governors and goes ahead to win the election, he would be the second Nigerian president who would complete his eight years and install his successor since the return to democracy in 1999.

Buhari had made this request last Tuesday from the progressive governors that he should be given the benefit of choosing his successor that will fly the flag of the All Progressive Congress in the 2023 general election.

The statement which has continued to generate massive reactions in the last few days was meant to stabilize the process and keep the party in power beyond 2023 according to the president.

But there seems to be strong opposition to that request within the APC circle as some of the aspirants and party chieftains are already threatening with fire and brimstone if such decision should be allowed to fly.

With the controversies that have greeted the request, Nigerians are asking if president Buhari will stick to his gun and damn the consequences or listen to people’s agitation and withdraw his request to allow a level playing ground among the 23 aspirants contesting for the party’s ticket.

Since 1999, the only president who had taken that risk and traveled the dangerous path without minding whose ox is gored was former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo who completed his two terms in 2007 anointed the late president Umar Musa Yaradua as his successor to fly the party’s flag in the 2007 general election.

Many PDP chieftains stood against the decision then. They said Yaradua was sick and could not withstand the rigours of presidential campaign. Yet, Obasanjo went ahead with his choice of successor.

During one of the campaigns, the presidential candidate slumped and was later flown out of the country. It was rumoured that he was dead. At another campaign ground, Obasanjo put a call through to him in a loud speaker and Yaradua responded that he was alive and healthy.

At the end of the exercise, the then candidate won the election and succeeded Obasanjo. But after two years, Yaradua succumbed to death after a protracted battle with an undisclosed ailment.

Goodluck Jonathan, who was until then an acting president was sworn-in to continue Yaradua’s tenure. In 2011, Jonathan was reelected for another four years. He contested in 2015 for his second term but lost to president Muhammadu Buhari.

Since then, Buhari has remained in power. As he is currently rounding off his eight years in office, he is asking for the opportunity to annoint his successor like Obasanjo did.

If he achieves that mission, he will make history in Nigeria as the second president to install a successor. But if he does not, Obasanjo will remain the only person with that honour.