Speech by General Muhammadu Buhari,
GCFR, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Congress for Progressive Change,
CPC, at the Party’s National Convention in Abuja, May 11, 2013.
GCFR, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Congress for Progressive Change,
CPC, at the Party’s National Convention in Abuja, May 11, 2013.
Protocols
1. With your permission, Mr Chairman, I would like to begin by welcoming all
the CPC delegates to this historic occasion. And our special welcome goes out
to our friends and colleagues from sister-parties, notably Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,
Chief Bisi Akande, Alhaji Lai Mohammed of the ACN, Chief Dr Ogbonnaya Onu,
Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Senator Ahmed Sani,
Yariman Bakura, of the ANPP, and Owelle Rochas Okorocha of APGA.
1. With your permission, Mr Chairman, I would like to begin by welcoming all
the CPC delegates to this historic occasion. And our special welcome goes out
to our friends and colleagues from sister-parties, notably Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,
Chief Bisi Akande, Alhaji Lai Mohammed of the ACN, Chief Dr Ogbonnaya Onu,
Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Senator Ahmed Sani,
Yariman Bakura, of the ANPP, and Owelle Rochas Okorocha of APGA.
2. But before I
deliver my speech, I would like all of us here and across the country to
reflect on the seriousness of the security situation in the country today. Some
areas of the nation are virtual war zones in a country supposedly at peace.
Whole local governments in some states in the North East are no-go areas to
representatives of constituted authority. Marauders of every description armed
to the teeth with all manner of sophisticated armaments roam the national
landscape with total and murderous impunity. The patience of this nation and
the various communities within it has been severely tried and stretched to its
limits. And there is no end in sight.
deliver my speech, I would like all of us here and across the country to
reflect on the seriousness of the security situation in the country today. Some
areas of the nation are virtual war zones in a country supposedly at peace.
Whole local governments in some states in the North East are no-go areas to
representatives of constituted authority. Marauders of every description armed
to the teeth with all manner of sophisticated armaments roam the national
landscape with total and murderous impunity. The patience of this nation and
the various communities within it has been severely tried and stretched to its
limits. And there is no end in sight.
3. Anarchy is
knocking on the door of many sections of this country and the Federal
government has not demonstrated that it has the good sense to understand what
is going on, or the competence to check it. The nation is hopelessly adrift.
But, if we are to survive, this vicious circle of violence that has engulfed
this nation must be brought to an end; and we implore the National Assembly to
take the lead in this quest for peace. I am sure everybody in this gathering
will join me in expressing sympathy for, and solidarity with, the good people
of Borno, Yobe, Kano, and now, Nasarawa and Benue states on their suffering and
travails.
knocking on the door of many sections of this country and the Federal
government has not demonstrated that it has the good sense to understand what
is going on, or the competence to check it. The nation is hopelessly adrift.
But, if we are to survive, this vicious circle of violence that has engulfed
this nation must be brought to an end; and we implore the National Assembly to
take the lead in this quest for peace. I am sure everybody in this gathering
will join me in expressing sympathy for, and solidarity with, the good people
of Borno, Yobe, Kano, and now, Nasarawa and Benue states on their suffering and
travails.
4. Mr. Chairman,
distinguished guests and fellow delegates, we must explore every opportunity to
save our country. This is a historic moment when several different political
parties have resolved to come together to change Nigeria for the better and
stop the mindless drift that has been going on for the last fourteen years. We
must understand and accept that we are here gathered to make history or forever
stand accused and condemned by it. We must seize this moment that calls for
patriotism and sacrifice—it is time to sacrifice everything—time, resources,
ambition and ego—for the greater good. We should carry this process through to
a successful conclusion, and leave our legacy and foot-prints on the history of
Nigeria.
distinguished guests and fellow delegates, we must explore every opportunity to
save our country. This is a historic moment when several different political
parties have resolved to come together to change Nigeria for the better and
stop the mindless drift that has been going on for the last fourteen years. We
must understand and accept that we are here gathered to make history or forever
stand accused and condemned by it. We must seize this moment that calls for
patriotism and sacrifice—it is time to sacrifice everything—time, resources,
ambition and ego—for the greater good. We should carry this process through to
a successful conclusion, and leave our legacy and foot-prints on the history of
Nigeria.
5. Many
political analysts have long stated that the only way to stabilize the country
is for opposition parties to merge and oust the ruling PDP. In 2010, during the
run-up to the elections of 2011, ACN and CPC inaugurated committees to explore
ways and means of merging into a single political party.
political analysts have long stated that the only way to stabilize the country
is for opposition parties to merge and oust the ruling PDP. In 2010, during the
run-up to the elections of 2011, ACN and CPC inaugurated committees to explore
ways and means of merging into a single political party.
6. We have
gone to the extent of developing a flag, a logo, a name and have even proceeded
to discuss with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, about the
modalities of consummating our plans; but time proved too short, and we were
not about to give too many hostages to fortune.
gone to the extent of developing a flag, a logo, a name and have even proceeded
to discuss with the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, about the
modalities of consummating our plans; but time proved too short, and we were
not about to give too many hostages to fortune.
7. So the
present move is really a continuation of the efforts begun in 2010; and this
time we have started early, following the rules step by step. On its part, the
CPC has, within the last two months, established the following committees with
appropriate terms of reference:
Merger Committee;
Convention Committee;
Membership and Registration Committee;
Contact and Mobilization Committee; and
Publicity Committee;
present move is really a continuation of the efforts begun in 2010; and this
time we have started early, following the rules step by step. On its part, the
CPC has, within the last two months, established the following committees with
appropriate terms of reference:
Merger Committee;
Convention Committee;
Membership and Registration Committee;
Contact and Mobilization Committee; and
Publicity Committee;
8. The objective
of these committees is to prepare CPC for the proposed merger; and these
committees have satisfactorily concluded their assignments and their proposals
have been submitted to NEC and to the Board of Trustees, and these are now
being presented to you, the National Convention, the highest policy making body
of our party. Other parties have fast-tracked their processes and some have
even held their conventions. So far, so good.
No doubt, all the parties joining to form APC are coming in as equals;
but, realistically, we all know that some are more equal than others.
Nevertheless, every joining party will bring its peculiar strengths to this
union and together we will, in every sense of the word, be too strong for the
ruling party to resist. With this, we believe the time for real change has finally
come to Nigeria—and it must change now before it become too late.
The government has failed in almost everything; it has proved unable to secure
the nation’s internal environment: there is insecurity everywhere. There is
spiraling lawlessness all over the country. There is widespread and
rising poverty and unemployment across the length and breadth of the country.
There is a complete and total decline in the quality of social services and an
irremediable dilapidation in the nation’s socio-economic infrastructure across
board.
of these committees is to prepare CPC for the proposed merger; and these
committees have satisfactorily concluded their assignments and their proposals
have been submitted to NEC and to the Board of Trustees, and these are now
being presented to you, the National Convention, the highest policy making body
of our party. Other parties have fast-tracked their processes and some have
even held their conventions. So far, so good.
No doubt, all the parties joining to form APC are coming in as equals;
but, realistically, we all know that some are more equal than others.
Nevertheless, every joining party will bring its peculiar strengths to this
union and together we will, in every sense of the word, be too strong for the
ruling party to resist. With this, we believe the time for real change has finally
come to Nigeria—and it must change now before it become too late.
The government has failed in almost everything; it has proved unable to secure
the nation’s internal environment: there is insecurity everywhere. There is
spiraling lawlessness all over the country. There is widespread and
rising poverty and unemployment across the length and breadth of the country.
There is a complete and total decline in the quality of social services and an
irremediable dilapidation in the nation’s socio-economic infrastructure across
board.
9. There
is an unprecedented fall in the nation’s standard of living and an astronomical
rise in the standard of dying. In short, today, there is nothing going
right; and we have become a nation in which nothing works as it should, that
is, if it works at all. When they said they have what they call a
Transformation Agenda, we didn’t understand, but we now know better; because,
within the space of three years, they have transformed the country into a
veritable wilderness, where everything that should work, doesn’t; where
everything that can get broken, has.
is an unprecedented fall in the nation’s standard of living and an astronomical
rise in the standard of dying. In short, today, there is nothing going
right; and we have become a nation in which nothing works as it should, that
is, if it works at all. When they said they have what they call a
Transformation Agenda, we didn’t understand, but we now know better; because,
within the space of three years, they have transformed the country into a
veritable wilderness, where everything that should work, doesn’t; where
everything that can get broken, has.
10. They
promised to give the nation credible elections; they couldn’t deliver. They
promised to fight corruption, they couldn’t deliver. They promised to stop the
insurgency, and they couldn’t deliver. This nation is witness to the fact that
whenever we promised, we delivered. And today, I promise you most solemnly that
we shall confront and eliminate corruption in the electoral process. We shall
confront and eliminate corruption in the judicial process; and we shall most
assuredly confront and eliminate it in the conduct of government business.
promised to give the nation credible elections; they couldn’t deliver. They
promised to fight corruption, they couldn’t deliver. They promised to stop the
insurgency, and they couldn’t deliver. This nation is witness to the fact that
whenever we promised, we delivered. And today, I promise you most solemnly that
we shall confront and eliminate corruption in the electoral process. We shall
confront and eliminate corruption in the judicial process; and we shall most
assuredly confront and eliminate it in the conduct of government business.
11.
All these evils derive and draw inspiration from a government that is itself
immersed to its neck in a cesspool of corruption; and is best characterized by
its own favourite catchphrases: whether it is ‘Do or die,’ or ‘We will rule
forever,’ or ‘No vacancy in Aso Rock,’ or they want to ‘fight to finish,’ it is
the same thing—something that could never be uttered by true democrats. Their
behaviour, language and body language are in complete and total disregard for
democratic norms and the ordinary decencies of civilized conduct.
12. We intend to provide a government of different quality
and tone to the people of Nigeria, one that will tackle the problem of
insecurity, solve the perennial issue of incessant power failure, arrest the
shameful deterioration in the standard of education, confront the decline in
agricultural production head-on, and stop the collapse of commerce and industry.
All these evils derive and draw inspiration from a government that is itself
immersed to its neck in a cesspool of corruption; and is best characterized by
its own favourite catchphrases: whether it is ‘Do or die,’ or ‘We will rule
forever,’ or ‘No vacancy in Aso Rock,’ or they want to ‘fight to finish,’ it is
the same thing—something that could never be uttered by true democrats. Their
behaviour, language and body language are in complete and total disregard for
democratic norms and the ordinary decencies of civilized conduct.
12. We intend to provide a government of different quality
and tone to the people of Nigeria, one that will tackle the problem of
insecurity, solve the perennial issue of incessant power failure, arrest the
shameful deterioration in the standard of education, confront the decline in
agricultural production head-on, and stop the collapse of commerce and industry.
13.
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow CPC members on behalf of the Board of Trustees of
our party, I commend the proposals shortly to be put before you. The best way
to eliminate this government that has not brought anything to Nigerians except
thievery of resources and violence is to accept to merge our parties. And we
only elect to do this because that is what we believe to be in the best
interest of the majority of the people of this country.
Ladies and gentlemen, fellow CPC members on behalf of the Board of Trustees of
our party, I commend the proposals shortly to be put before you. The best way
to eliminate this government that has not brought anything to Nigerians except
thievery of resources and violence is to accept to merge our parties. And we
only elect to do this because that is what we believe to be in the best
interest of the majority of the people of this country.
14.
And I would like to end by once again thanking our steadfast supporters—you,
the ordinary folks—who have been the unbreakable backbone of this struggle,
from the time we started this journey in APP to ANPP and then to CPC. You did
not do it for material gain; otherwise, you will have turned your backs on us.
No doubt, you decided to stay the course as a mark of respect for our stand,
and possibly knowing that we would never let you down. You relied on our
judgment to forge ahead through the thicket of the country’s corruption-laden
politics. This we have tried to do to the best of our ability, and will
continue to do so until the masses of this country secure a fair deal from
those who lead them. What we desire is democracy and freedom for all our
people. And in this struggle, we think we have done our bit.
And I would like to end by once again thanking our steadfast supporters—you,
the ordinary folks—who have been the unbreakable backbone of this struggle,
from the time we started this journey in APP to ANPP and then to CPC. You did
not do it for material gain; otherwise, you will have turned your backs on us.
No doubt, you decided to stay the course as a mark of respect for our stand,
and possibly knowing that we would never let you down. You relied on our
judgment to forge ahead through the thicket of the country’s corruption-laden
politics. This we have tried to do to the best of our ability, and will
continue to do so until the masses of this country secure a fair deal from
those who lead them. What we desire is democracy and freedom for all our
people. And in this struggle, we think we have done our bit.
15. At its formation, the CPC became the greatest
crowd-pulling party in the nation’s political history; and within six months of
its registration, and in spite of all the rigging of the poll and the snatching
of its votes, it was still able to get more than 12 million votes in the 2011
presidential election. After the merger, the sky will be the limit.
16.
While thanking you again, I implore you not to relent as we embark on yet
another move in the search for a better tomorrow for our country, Nigeria. We
are now in the final stages of the move that will culminate in the merger of
our party—the CPC—with three other parties. We join this effort compromising
none of our principles but yielding to the belief that our diverse efforts,
applied in unison, will help arrest the rot that has become our lot.
While thanking you again, I implore you not to relent as we embark on yet
another move in the search for a better tomorrow for our country, Nigeria. We
are now in the final stages of the move that will culminate in the merger of
our party—the CPC—with three other parties. We join this effort compromising
none of our principles but yielding to the belief that our diverse efforts,
applied in unison, will help arrest the rot that has become our lot.
17.
We go into this new arrangement still loyal to you and committed to what you
stand for. We go into this arrangement conscious of our responsibilities to you
and grateful for all the sacrifices you have been making since the beginning of
our journey. We count on you, as we have always done, to guide, support and
defend our position. We will strive to work hard to expand and level the
democratic playing field in accordance with the dictates of the rule of law. We
declare that we are in this together—and together we shall remain to the end.
We go into this new arrangement still loyal to you and committed to what you
stand for. We go into this arrangement conscious of our responsibilities to you
and grateful for all the sacrifices you have been making since the beginning of
our journey. We count on you, as we have always done, to guide, support and
defend our position. We will strive to work hard to expand and level the
democratic playing field in accordance with the dictates of the rule of law. We
declare that we are in this together—and together we shall remain to the end.
18.
We played by the rules and we accepted to play alongside those who didn’t;
because we believed our participation was giving millions hope that positive
change will come along the way. Now change has finally come; and they cannot
stop it. And we are putting the current leadership of this nation on notice
that our people will no longer tolerate its corruption or the rigging, vote
thievery and general impunity that have become the norm and standard practice
during elections in this country.
We played by the rules and we accepted to play alongside those who didn’t;
because we believed our participation was giving millions hope that positive
change will come along the way. Now change has finally come; and they cannot
stop it. And we are putting the current leadership of this nation on notice
that our people will no longer tolerate its corruption or the rigging, vote
thievery and general impunity that have become the norm and standard practice
during elections in this country.
19. We have
resolved that henceforth our votes must all be counted—and they must all go on
to count. And we declare that this nation has now resolved, through its united
opposition, that it will never again tolerate or allow to pass the mayhem the
government deliberately creates in order to cover up its guilt, obscure the
issues and then blame the opposition in order to deceive gullible folks. And we
will no longer be intimidated by anyone.
Thank you very much for your patience and attention. May God bless us.
General Muhammdu Buhari, GCFR
resolved that henceforth our votes must all be counted—and they must all go on
to count. And we declare that this nation has now resolved, through its united
opposition, that it will never again tolerate or allow to pass the mayhem the
government deliberately creates in order to cover up its guilt, obscure the
issues and then blame the opposition in order to deceive gullible folks. And we
will no longer be intimidated by anyone.
Thank you very much for your patience and attention. May God bless us.
General Muhammdu Buhari, GCFR
