A
former Head of State and National Leader of the Congress for Progressive
Change, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said Nigeria is in the grip of
bad government.
former Head of State and National Leader of the Congress for Progressive
Change, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said Nigeria is in the grip of
bad government.
According
to him, the Peoples Democratic Party wants to retain power by hook or crook.
to him, the Peoples Democratic Party wants to retain power by hook or crook.
Buhari,
who was the 2011 presidential candidate for the CPC , spoke in Abuja on Monday
at an interactive session with the party’s
elected representatives.
who was the 2011 presidential candidate for the CPC , spoke in Abuja on Monday
at an interactive session with the party’s
elected representatives.
He said
the events of the last 13 years had shown that the PDP did not possess the
capacity to lead the country.
the events of the last 13 years had shown that the PDP did not possess the
capacity to lead the country.
Because
of this, he said, it was obvious that the PDP was not in the position to
move the country forward and should therefore be booted out of power in
2015.
of this, he said, it was obvious that the PDP was not in the position to
move the country forward and should therefore be booted out of power in
2015.
The
PDP, however, asked Nigerians not to take Buhari for his words, adding that the
“serial presidential aspirants has lost focus and is not in tune with the
reality in the country”.
PDP, however, asked Nigerians not to take Buhari for his words, adding that the
“serial presidential aspirants has lost focus and is not in tune with the
reality in the country”.
The
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a
telephone interview with our correspondent, said that Buhari had
yet to recover from his numerous rejections at the poll by Nigerians.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a
telephone interview with our correspondent, said that Buhari had
yet to recover from his numerous rejections at the poll by Nigerians.
Buhari,
however, said the PDP had never won election in the country.
however, said the PDP had never won election in the country.
He said
while other political parties were merging and planning alliance, the PDP was
busy aligning with the Independent National Electoral Commission, security
agencies and the judiciary in order to remain in power.
while other political parties were merging and planning alliance, the PDP was
busy aligning with the Independent National Electoral Commission, security
agencies and the judiciary in order to remain in power.
The
former Head of State said, “A brief glance at the political history of
Nigeria confirms that to hold power at the centre, you need a broad coalition,
alliance, merger or whatever you may like to call it.
former Head of State said, “A brief glance at the political history of
Nigeria confirms that to hold power at the centre, you need a broad coalition,
alliance, merger or whatever you may like to call it.
“Today’s
situation is no different. The country is in the grip of a bad government whose
only purpose is to retain power by hook or by crook – preferably by crook.
situation is no different. The country is in the grip of a bad government whose
only purpose is to retain power by hook or by crook – preferably by crook.
“PDP
does not need merger or alliance – they are already merged and are in alliance
with the Police, INEC, and the Judiciary with the NNPC and
pension funds.
does not need merger or alliance – they are already merged and are in alliance
with the Police, INEC, and the Judiciary with the NNPC and
pension funds.
“The
country is tired of PDP; we are tired of oppression; we are tired of
corruption; we are tired of insecurity and we are tired, full stop!”
country is tired of PDP; we are tired of oppression; we are tired of
corruption; we are tired of insecurity and we are tired, full stop!”
Buhari
urged the elected representatives to know that the only way to send the
PDP packing from Aso Rock was through the merger which the
CPC is pursuing with two other opposition political parties.
urged the elected representatives to know that the only way to send the
PDP packing from Aso Rock was through the merger which the
CPC is pursuing with two other opposition political parties.
Apart
from the CPC, the other two political parties in the merger are the Action
Congress of Nigeria and the All Nigeria Peoples Party.
from the CPC, the other two political parties in the merger are the Action
Congress of Nigeria and the All Nigeria Peoples Party.
The
Katsina State-born general called on those in attendance at the event to regard
themselves as part of the great movements that would come
together to unseat the PDP.
Katsina State-born general called on those in attendance at the event to regard
themselves as part of the great movements that would come
together to unseat the PDP.
“I
believe merger is the only way to prevent continuation of this bad governance.
The political class is at one that the only way to stabilise the nation is for
the opposition to merge and face the ruling party,” he added.
believe merger is the only way to prevent continuation of this bad governance.
The political class is at one that the only way to stabilise the nation is for
the opposition to merge and face the ruling party,” he added.
Buhari
said while elected members of the CPC could hold their heads high that
they were truly elected, the same could not be said of their PDP
counterparts.
said while elected members of the CPC could hold their heads high that
they were truly elected, the same could not be said of their PDP
counterparts.
According
to him, “You were actually elected. You did not use police to intimidate
voters; you did not use INEC staff to inflate your votes. You won in spite of
all attempts by government to rig you out. How many in the PDP can say that?
Very, very few.
to him, “You were actually elected. You did not use police to intimidate
voters; you did not use INEC staff to inflate your votes. You won in spite of
all attempts by government to rig you out. How many in the PDP can say that?
Very, very few.
“You
can, therefore, hold your heads high and regard yourselves as genuine
representatives of your constituencies.You are true sons of democracy; your
positions are even more important than those of party
officials and party leaders because you are the face of the CPC.”
can, therefore, hold your heads high and regard yourselves as genuine
representatives of your constituencies.You are true sons of democracy; your
positions are even more important than those of party
officials and party leaders because you are the face of the CPC.”
He also
called on the people to work within the 1999 Constitution to effect the change
in the leadership of the country.
called on the people to work within the 1999 Constitution to effect the change
in the leadership of the country.
Metuh,
however, said Buhari was still day-dreaming, adding that his language did not
portray him as someone desirous to lead the country.
however, said Buhari was still day-dreaming, adding that his language did not
portray him as someone desirous to lead the country.
He said
Buhari should know that Nigerians were tired of “people who instigate; people
who cause violence with their words and people who are in the habit of causing
tension when they speak.”
Buhari should know that Nigerians were tired of “people who instigate; people
who cause violence with their words and people who are in the habit of causing
tension when they speak.”
The CPC
national leader, he said, had not come to terms with the reality that Nigerians
would not tolerate someone who would continue to fight as a loser of
election till eternity.
national leader, he said, had not come to terms with the reality that Nigerians
would not tolerate someone who would continue to fight as a loser of
election till eternity.
He
said, “It is un-presidential for someone to be saying a rival political party
has merged with state institutions like INEC, Police and the judiciary.
said, “It is un-presidential for someone to be saying a rival political party
has merged with state institutions like INEC, Police and the judiciary.
“That
statement does not befit a man who says he wants to lead the country. We will
want to add that such a comment is a pepper soup discussion that does not suit
someone of Buhari’s status.
statement does not befit a man who says he wants to lead the country. We will
want to add that such a comment is a pepper soup discussion that does not suit
someone of Buhari’s status.
“We
understand his plight. He is a serial loser and does not know that Nigerians
are tired of him as everlasting presidential aspirant.”
understand his plight. He is a serial loser and does not know that Nigerians
are tired of him as everlasting presidential aspirant.”
Source: Punch
