President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he would not name
anybody as his successor.
Buhari, who was sworn in for a second term on May 29,
this year, stated this when he hosted members of the Progressives in Academics
(Pro-Acad) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The president was asked by the group to start grooming a
youth as his successor. But the president said those who want to succeed him
should try as much as he did.
The president said: “Succession, to me this is very funny;
because if I did find anybody I will create more problems for him or her. Let
those who want to be president try as much as I did.
“I believe those who are interested need to know that I
tried three times and the fourth time I thank God and technology, PVC.
“So, I think you have more to do as intellectuals to make
sure you correct Nigeria’s intellectual development, it is very important for
the next generation.
“A lot of our young people are taking things for granted.
Imagine to contest elections three times and ending up in the Supreme Court, it
takes a lot of conviction and hard work. But people take things for granted,”
he said
On education, Buhari said in the last four years, he has
injected over N1 trillion into education through the Universal Basic Education
Commission (UBEC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and needs assessment
interventions.
“We also released N25bn to public universities to pay earned
academic allowances to lecturers. Of course, you are all aware of the rot we
uncovered at JAMB and many other institutions.
“Our home grown school feeding programme covering more than
ten million children coupled with our social investment initiative has
encouraged many parents to send their children to school and also pay for more
teachers in classrooms,” he said.
Earlier in his address, the Convener of Pro-Acad, Dr.
Bolariwa Bolaji, said there was need to accredit secondary and primary schools
in the country.
He urged the president to take steps to address the
challenge of Almajiri in the country.
He further urged the
President to revoke oil well licenses issued to individuals.