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| Buhari |
Former military Head of State and three-time presidential contender,
Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Wednesday formally declared his
intention to enter the presidential race on the platform of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), promising to fight corruption and wipe out
Boko Haram, which he described as “ungodly”.
Also Wednesday, one of the presidential aspirants
and former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, might have been
rattled by the presence of APC governors at the Buhari declaration
rally.
But a source at the Atiku media office has said Atiku's campaign team
explained that the reason more leaders of the APC attended the Buhari
declaration rally in comparison to the former vice-president’s, was
because they were not invited so as not to compromise their neutrality.
Buhari, who was accompanied to the podium by four APC governors from
Lagos, Rivers, Edo and Nasarawa States, said he was putting himself
forward to contest for the party's presidential ticket.
“This is an occasion to celebrate our efforts and to resolve to
continue until victory is won. I humbly wish to present myself before
you, before all of Nigeria and before God seeking to be elected as APC’s
presidential candidate,” he said.
The former head of state also used the opportunity to highlight his priority areas if elected president.
Among the areas, which Buhari said his government would give priority
to, were the protection of lives and property, pursuing economic
policies for shared prosperity and youth employment.
He said proper attention would be given to the provision of quality
education for development, modernity and social mobility, agricultural
productivity to ensure food security, adding that he would ensure that
millions are out of poverty.
Other areas, which Buhari pledged to focus on, were the revival of the
industries to generate employment, developing solid minerals
exploitation, restoring honour and integrity to public service, and
tackling corruption.
Lastly, the former head of state said he would respect the
constitutional separation of powers between the executive, legislature
and judiciary and respect the rights of citizens.
Buhari did not spare the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he said had presided over the country’s decline.
“Since 1999, PDP has presided over our country’s decline. Nigeria in my
experience has never been so divided, so polarised by an unthinking
government hell bent on ruling and stealing forever whatever befalls the
country.
“Interference in the form of rigging which PDP government has practised
since 2003 is the worst form of injustice – denying people their right
to express their opinions. Whether they like it or not, injustice cannot
endure,” he said.
Buhari paid tributes to Nigerians who have endured all kinds of
difficulties, especially those facing the conflict and marauding
insurgents in the North-east.
While expressing concern over the growing insecurity in the country,
Buhari lamented the activities of the marauding murderers in towns and
villages and armed robbers on the highways.
He nonetheless commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their efforts to deal with the insurgency.
“It is everyone’s duty to resolve and help the national effort to
overcome these immense challenges. I would like us to place on record
our appreciation for the efforts of our Armed Forces under a new
leadership and police in confronting these challenges,” he added.
On the economy, he said the situation had continued to deteriorate
while the agricultural and the industrial sector had all spiralled
downwards.
On the power sector, Buhari said when PDP assumed power in 1999,
Nigeria was generating 4,000MW of electricity, however, the situation
has worsened.
“When PDP came to power in 1999, Nigeria was generating about 4,000MW
of electricity. After 15 years and $20 billion spent, we are generating
between 3,000MW and 4,000MW. No failure is more glaring than this,” he
charged.
The former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who was
called to introduce Buhari, said one of the key priorities of APC would
be to generate jobs for the teeming unemployed youths of the country.
He disputed the appellation that Buhari is a religious fanatic, saying
the former head of state does not in any way manifest religious
fanaticism or bigotry, stressing that Buhari could be trusted as an
honest and selfless politician.
According to him, Buhari's interest is to come and stabilise the polity and step aside.
While welcoming party members and Buhari supporters to the event, the
former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Silva, who chaired the
organisation of the event, said amongst others that the country's
economy needed proper intervention.
According to him, Buhari had shown in his lifestyle and past
performance in government that he is the one to proffer solutions to the
country’s problems.
Commenting on the notion that Buhari is too old to rule, he said age
will not be an issue in the election because Buhari has a lot of
experience and integrity to his advantage which other candidates are
lacking.
Senator Olorunimbe Mamora from Lagos State also addressed the gathering
on behalf of a group known as the National Elders of APC.
He said the wind of change was blowing and that come 2015 “we will have an APC government at the centre”.
He listed the problems of unemployment, poor power supply, decay in the
education sector and insecurity as some of the biting problems that an
APC government would tackle if voted into power.
Another stakeholder of the party and the Minority Leader in the Senate,
Senator George Akume, spoke of the exploits of Buhari while he was the
Petroleum Minister where he was able to manage the resources creditably.
A woman leader, Hajia Rabiu Ishaq, on her part, urged fellow women to
support Buhari whom she said is the leader they can trust to ameliorate
the plight of Nigeria women.
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi said change was certainly in the
air, adding that in the past, the opposition party could not boast of
the present number of serving governors at its rallies.
“The governors have agreed to work together for change and whoever wins
the party’s ticket, we would all join hands to campaign for him,” he
said.
He said only APC could boast of an incorruptible personality like
Buhari, adding that about N1.106 billion was spent by Rivers State to
control the spread of the Ebola virus, while the president only gave the
state a paltry N200 million and accused the federal government of
politicising the disease.
He said APC has a firm grip on Rivers, Kano and Lagos States, adding
that the party intends to adopt the strategy it used to win in Osun
State during the 2015 general election.
Speaking on the failings of the country in the power sector, Amaechi
said President Goodluck Jonathan had failed in his promise to deliver
stable power supply in the country by 2014.
Buhari was driven into the arena at exactly 12.25 pm in an open roof
sports utility vehicle (SUV) from which he waved to his supporters.
His frenzied supporters ran alongside the motorcade conveying him till he went into the VIP stand.
As early as midnight Tuesday, all the roads leading to the Eagle
Square, Abuja, venue of the declaration rally, was swarmed with hundreds
of his supporters who arrived the capital city in several convoys of
buses.
Security men and party officials had a hectic time controlling the
enthusiastic and near-fanatical youths who took over the entry points to
the covered stands, waving and displaying campaign banners. The
ecstatic supporters drummed and danced around the arena endlessly till
the end of the programme.
Reacting to the calibre of personalities that graced Buhari's
declaration, a source in the Atiku media office said the former
vice-president viewed the presence of some governors of APC as something
that may endanger their neutrality before the presidential primary
The source said Atiku had deliberately avoided extending invitations to
the leaders of APC and the party's governors “because he didn't want to
compromise their neutrality”.
He explained that since the party’s national leaders and the governors
did not endorse any presidential aspirant, Atiku had no need to invite
them to his declaration, which might send the wrong message.
Elaborating further, the source said since the party’s national
leadership made it clear that they would create a level playing field
for all presidential aspirants of the party, inviting any of them to
Atiku's declaration could have led to the perception that they had
endorsed him.
To avoid that controversy, the source said Atiku chose to make his
declaration essentially a youth event, because they are the main victims
of poverty and unemployment, critical agents of change and the focus of
his agenda on job creation.
Another reason the source gave was that Atiku did not want to turn the
event into a campaign rally as opposed to a symbolic declaration of
intent to seek the country’s presidency in 2015.
Some of the leaders of APC who were at the event included Lagos State
Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiohmole,
Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, and former Speaker of the House
of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari.
Others were the National Vice-Chairman of APC (North-east), B.D Lawal,
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Ahmed Yerima, Senator Abba Buka Ibrahim,
Silva, Muoghalu, Sharon Ikeazor, Alhaji Mustapha Habib, Osita
Okechukwu, Hajia Hadiza Usman of Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), Tony
Momoh, Prof. Tamuno David-West, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, Oluwatayo Oluwa
and Rotimi Akeredolu.
However, his rivals for the ticket of APC – Kano State Governor, Rabiu
Kwankwaso and Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah were
absent from the vent.
Also reacting on Buhari’s entry into the presidential race, and his
derision of the ruling party, the PDP said yesterday that it was pleased
to welcome him to the 2015 contest, but debunked his assessment of the
party and the Jonathan administration.
PDP said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Olisa
Metuh: “While we congratulate and wish him well in his ambition, we have
noted some distortions and misrepresentation of facts in his speech and
consequently wish to put the record straight.
“According to General Buhari, Nigeria was generating 4,000MW of
electricity in 1999 but has today fallen short of that capacity under
the PDP.
“The fact remains that as at May 29th 1999 when PDP took office,
Nigeria was generating 1,600MW. We urge Nigerians to fact-check this.
Corroboration of this figure can also be sought from the World Bank, the
IMF and multiples of other authoritative sources.
“In contrast, it is common knowledge that under the transformative
leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria now generates 4,568MW
of electricity, triple what was generated in 1999.
“Again, General Buhari stated that the growing economy which the PDP
inherited in 1999 has been destroyed within 15 years in office. This
also does not represent the reality on the ground.”
PDP said these facts could be verified from the handover notes of the
military as well as from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
(IMF), adding that at the time, Nigeria was the third largest economy in
Africa, behind South Africa and Egypt.
PDP also said the nation was rated number 48 in the world in terms of
its foreign reserves which stood at $3.6 billion while its foreign debt
stood at $36 billion.
Metuh said it was incontrovertible that in the last 15 years of PDP
leadership, especially the last three years of dynamic and purposeful
administration provided by Jonathan, Nigeria's economy has become the
largest in Africa and the 26th largest in the world.
“Similarly, our foreign reserve now stand at over $39 billion and our
foreign debt reduced to less than $7 billion from $36 billion,” he said.
Besides, the ruling party took on Buhari on Nigeria’s agricultural
sector, saying his statement did not reflect the reality on the ground.
“Verily, the fact remains that in the last 15 years under the PDP,
indeed, in the last three years of vigorous application of the
Agricultural Transformation Agenda, there has been an unparalleled
government input in agriculture, thereby pushing production to an all
time high. Moreover, Nigeria food importation has reduced from N1.1
trillion in 2010 to N684 billion.
“While we understand that the APC is hell bent on using every
opportunity at its disposal to discredit the PDP in its quest for
political control, we urge their handlers to always cross-check their
facts and stop making a mockery of respected Nigerians in the mould of
General Buhari.
“Finally, the PDP again welcomes General Buhari into the presidential
race and hopes that in the future, he will not allow himself to be
further embarrassed in the course of his campaign,” the PDP said.
