Former Head of State, General Muhammadu
Buhari, has said his quest to govern Nigeria is
borne out of the desire for a secured and
efficiently managed nation.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential
aspirant addressed reporters yesterday in Ilorin,
the Kwara State capital, after consulting with
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Gen. Buhari said: “I contested three times and I
lost three times. I ended up in Supreme Court
three times. We thank God because the
constitution does not limit how many times you
can contest. Whichever stage, once you are 18
and above, they did not put age limit as well.
“I ruled this country before under a different
system. From 1999 till now, I am sure you know
what has been happening. I believe that what
Nigeria needs now is to be secured and efficiently
managed. This is the APC stand. I will like to use
this opportunity through my party, through the
system to seek a secured and efficiently managed
Nigeria as the country is not being well
managed.”
On APC’s primaries, he said:
“This is up to the
party and the people. We want a fair playing field
for everybody. Let Nigerians be given the
impression and let them believe that they matter,
that all the efforts to salvage them are for them
and for the country. But if there is a consensus
agreement and it is not forced on the people, all
well and good.
“It will save time and resources. But if people
insist on making sure that the people they want
to lead should present themselves and let the
people decide, it is all well and good. The system
allows it.”
Gen. Buhari said he read in the papers the
withdrawal of Senator Bukola Saraki from the
presidential race.
He said: “I read it in the papers and I went to see
him. I didn’t beg him to leave it for me. But it is
his decision. He has been a governor here in this
state twice. He knows the politics of the country.
He is known throughout the country. His father
worked extremely hard and virtually established a
dynasty voluntarily supported by the people of
this state.”
Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, on
Sunday, said two of the G7 governors, who are
still in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would
soon join APC.
He added that more governors in the ruling party
would also defect to the APC
The governor was in Kwara State on consultations
for the presidential ticket of the APC in next
year’s election.
In a statement, Kwankwaso said APC members
are practical people with extensive grassroots
reach.
The governor said they would rejuvenate the
national economy, tackle corruption and ensure
national growth.
He said: “Our economy can never be good in a
situation of crises. Our economy can never be
good in the face of corruption. Those who are
trying to convince us that the economy is good
don’t know what they are saying. Yes, their
economy is good but the masses’ economy is
bad. That is the situation today. That is what the
APC wants to correct.”
On APC consensus candidate for the presidential
election, Kwankwaso noted that in line with the
party’s constitution, it would explore the
possibility of a consensus candidate within the
ambit of democratic culture.
Ahmed said the choice of the APC presidential
candidate for the 2015 elections would not only
be devoid of acrimony but would strengthen the
fortunes of the party.
The governor said Nigeria had bad leadership,
despite its abundant human and natural resources
endowment.
But he was optimistic that an APC administration
at the federal level would ensure the effective
leadership Nigeria deserves.
“The APC is the fastest-growing party in national party, which came into
being as a result of the congruence of ideas on
how to ensure that Nigeria moves again along the
side of improving and growing nations,” Ahmed
added.
Former Vice-President and APC presidential
aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said yesterday he
was not prepared for a consensus option in
choosing the party’s candidate for the 2015
elections.
Atiku addressed reporters in Abuja on a planned
policy review summit to be held in Abeokuta, the
Ogun State capital.
The APC chieftain said the party’s leadership
decided to go for the primaries.
He said: “We have met as a caucus, as the Board
of Trustees (BoT), as the National Executive
Council (NEC). But we have decided to go the
primaries.”
SOURCE:::::::Thenationonline
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