Former Head
of State and leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu
Buhari, said yesterday that only a merger of parties can sack the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
He said no
single party can defeat PDP in a poll, noting that the APC has what it takes
now to take over Aso Rock next year.
Speaking in a
programme on Kaduna-based private radio station, Liberty Radio, as Guest
of the Week, Buhari recalled that the merger effort did not yield result in
2010 because of lack of time to meet the Electoral Act deadline, hence PDP
carried the day in 2011 general elections.
He said this
time around, the APC would sack the PDP, urging Nigerians to register for APC
to enable them vote for the party in the forthcoming elections.
He said: “The
process leading to APC started in 2005 when we realized that no single party
can face the PDP and survive because of the way things were going. So, we
decided to come together from across the country to form a strong party to face
the PDP.
“If you
recall in 2010, we had two committees in ACN and CPC and we shared experiences.
We had the name, the logo; we started drafting the constitution and manifesto,
and conditions that must be fulfilled according to the Electoral Act before a
party is registered. Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it before the expiration
of 90 days before elections and so, the merger could not take place in 2010.
“This time
around, we started early enough. We had conventions, submitted our registration
certificates, applied and got the registration. We have interim structures on
ground which we have been putting in place for several weeks now. The next
stage for us is registration of members and the next thing will be to hold a convention.
It is something that was well thought out over the years.
“We have been
convinced that since 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed without a shot being
fired, that multi-party democratic system is superior. But there is an
important barrier. Elections must be free and fair. We have been in court three
times in 2003, 2007 and 2011 not because we were convinced that we were going
to win. We went because we want to make sure that this multi-party democracy
takes firm grip on Nigerians. If we can come and go, the system will be strong
enough to guarantee security for this country and guarantee prosperity for this
country. This is our objective.
“Like I have
said, we have to properly secure and manage this country. You cannot deny
citizens their rights to express their own opinion or you allow some people to
brazenly threaten the corporate existence of the country and instead of
inviting them and asking them to explain themselves to the nation, they are
given a ride in presidential jets. When others do it, you go and lock them up
or you harass them. That is not the way to do things.
“For example,
when the seven governors decided to break out from the PDP and we went and
visited them; five of the governors took the risk. One of the governors still
have problem with the police, his children were arrested, the bank officials
that transacted business with his children were locked up. Those are children
of governors. You can imagine what will then happen to children of ordinary
Nigerians. There is this problem of insecurity in the land, both physical and
material which the All Progressives Congress is about to weed out, God willing
“All we are
fighting for is to have proper democracy. What I mean is that whatever people
say, whether they reflect briefly on it or not, Nigerians are now well aware of
their rights and what they expect from government. In APC, we have reduced it
to two, your security and management. We have to secure this country and manage
it properly. I think people have suffered enough, they are now prepared to
listen and I believe they are listening and are cooperating.
“I want to
use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to come out and register with the All
Progressives Congress during the registration exercise scheduled for between
February 5 and 10, 2014 as explained by the committee that is supposed to go
round to ensure the success of the exercise from the ward, local government,
state and national levels.
“Go and
register, so that you can participate in the processes that will lead to the convention
to elect leaders for the party as well as those that will be identified to
stand election subsequently from the councillorship to the Presidency.
“This is your
privilege and you have to guide it religiously so that you can participate in
the processes of running this country next year. Already, INEC has released its
programme which I believe are subject to modifications when the political
parties think it is time to do so. I wish all of us the best of luck so that we
can have a register of members in our own hands and as Nigerians, participate
fully in the process that will lead to elections next year.
“I mentioned
that there are structures on ground from polling units, wards, local
governments and the states. We are expecting those teams to be on ground and
available to make things easy to all those who are not clear on the conduct of
the exercise. They have been sent across the country from neighbouring states
and from other geo-political zones because it is a Nigerian affair, the process
is for all Nigerians in all parts of the country. We do not envisage any
problem whatsoever.
“We are
trying to simplify the registration venues especially for our people in the
rural areas and those who are not able to listen to radio or watch television
if there is light in the area. The people can choose their time because there
are five days for the exercise. They can chose when to go and register, but the
earlier they go, the better so that they can have their own membership cards as
members of the All Progressives Congress and continue to look forward to other
processes”, Buhari noted.
Well done, I like his leadership qualities and God willing insecurity and bad leadership will be weeded out
ReplyDeleteBuhari will cry Again come 2015
ReplyDeleteBuhari u use boko haram to distebilize Nigeria n here u r talking nonsense, we hate u, n pls dnt let u hate apc because any attempt 4rm u to contest 2015 election, all d apc faithful will dump d party, u r just a liar, nobody will welkum ur Presidential ambition come 2015. U can only reply me if only u read n understand my comment, marvellous
ReplyDeleteHe cannot win, come 2015. He will cry again.
ReplyDeleteLol 2 buhari u and ur party will weap come 2015,u r causing all these insecurity 2 kill goodluck regime but God pass u
ReplyDeleteBokohari, you think you can fool Nigerians, no you can't. We all know you unleashed Boko Haram on innocent Nigerians, you brought about the insecurity we are facing now because of your must win politics. There's so much blood on your hand and you shouldn't be making public statements, stop your boys now don't wait until you win an election because that day will never come as long as God liveth. So take the path of honor and stop your Boko Haram from killing more people.
ReplyDeleteIf truly u can rule naija,stop boko haram from killing innocent people,then we will think of the next step 4 you but if u can't do that u beta go n sleep with cows
ReplyDeleteI can c most of the people the made their comments previously are real product of baby factory,animals like u.if buhari is behind b/h then how comes none of the captured b/h members ever mentioned buhari's name.let me suggest that you should tell the world your source that buhari is behind b/h.the thing is that you are free to say you don't like buhari simple but stop connecting him wit b/h.4 ur info buhari did not even belong to the sunnih school of thought he's just like catholic in cristianity.
ReplyDeleteYour just a bigot and unwanted child of the nation,you belong to those in zamzba forest who are making life uncomfortable for your people up there at the north..You will never stand shoulder to shoulder to anybody who comes from the south i bet you..
DeleteWonders shall never end so some pple knew dat buhari is the sponsor of boko/haram yet they refused to inform the drinking warlord call get to arrest and prosecute him.could it been u informed get but bcos he's a coward he failed to arrest buhari or what?.pls i await ur reply.
ReplyDeleteGej u need nt waste ur time nd nigerian money in search of b/h leader(s) or sponsor(s) here are some of ur people they knew who's behind the b/haram so please meet them.
ReplyDeleteAll the problems in PDP are now in APC,thank God
ReplyDeleteMr Buhari please don't cry again in 2015..i bet you ,2015 will be a shocker to you people in APC because we have now see that those fraud magicians in PDP are now routing to APC ..
ReplyDelete