Politics now difficult, don’t underrate voters - Buhari tells politicians

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, in Abuja, said the outcome of the February 25 and March 18 elections was proof that voters had awoken to their power, hence, politics would no longer be business as usual.

“No one should underrate the Nigerian voter anymore. Politics will be more difficult, henceforth,” Buhari told a delegation he received at the State House, Abuja, led by the newly-installed Emir of Dutse, the Jigawa State Capital, Muhammad Sunusi.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday titled ‘Outcome of 2023 has changed politics, there is no more easy route to power says President Buhari.’

Citing the “stunning outcome” of the National Assembly elections in which at least 10 governors lost their senatorial bids, Buhari said there was no longer a guaranteed route to power and the voter was truly the king.

According to him, the results served as a “testament to the maturity of our democracy and to the amazing sophistication of the voter.”

The PUNCH reports that outgoing governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Darius Ishaku of Adamawa State, Simon Lalong of Plateau State, Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State all lost their senatorial bids.

Reacting to this, Buhari said in Hausa “What shocked me was that the ordinary citizen who is usually underrated has made the point of his political understanding of things.

“Assumption is always that you are governor for eight years and you go to the Senate to crown the career.

“No one should underrate the Nigerian voter anymore. Politics will be more difficult, henceforth.”

After listening to the new monarch who listed several government projects put in place for Jigawa State under the Buhari Presidency, and a request to address the challenge of water supply to the state capital, the President promised to do his best for the state in the few weeks left in office, and to brief his successor, Bola Tinubu, on those requests.

He told the Emir and members of the Emirate Council who accompanied him that he and the entire nation would continue to miss his friend, the late Emir, Nuhu Sunusi, saying that he would continue to pray for the repose of the deceased.

The Emir and leader of the delegation thanked the Buhari regime for helping Jigawa State to excel in major rice production, for approving a rail link to Dutse from Kano and for the restoration of peace to the state, the entire nation and the neighbouring countries that had suffered insecurity in the past.

He also welcomed the upgrading of the Army Battalion in Dutse to a full Military Brigade.