Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd)For the fourth time running, the Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari has declared his interest in running for the office of President in the 2015 election on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) even as the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has threw its support behind him.
Before a large crowd of his supporters who thronged the Eagle Square in the nation’s federal capital territory today, General Buhari berated President Goodluck Jonathan administration’s kid glove handling of corruption all over the place. He promised that the first two things he would attack headlong if elected are corruption and insurgency from the body politics of Nigeria.
He criticized the administration of President Jonathan for its inability to adequately tackle the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency.
“Nearly all Nigerians are in fear of their lives … due to insurgency by the godless movement called Boko Haram, by armed robbers on the highways, by kidnappers who have put whole communities to flight.”
This was even as the Benue state chairman of the CNPP, Mr. Baba Agan who told newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital that the decision to support General Buhari was informed by the former Head of State’s antecedents.
“The position of the CNPP on the matter was a collective decision and it was premised on the track record of Gen. Buhari whose exemplary leadership qualities stand him out as an incorruptible Nigerian.
“In fact, at this time of our development as a nation, we need a morally strong leader like Buhari to place this country on the pedestal of faster growth and development, hence our decision to queue behind his aspiration.”
Agan who said, the CNPP had already put modalities in place to ensure that the former Head of State, emerged victorious in the coming election, said the election of the retired general would be like a mass movement.
“The truth is that his election come 2015 would be some sort of a mass movement of all Nigerians who are craving for change in our country.
“Already, the subtle mobilization of market women, civil servants, artisans, religious groups and the political class has fully commenced and there is no doubt that Nigerians earnestly desire a change for the better.”
The CNPP who urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants in the coming elections cautioned that the will of Nigerians should be allowed to prevail at next year’s elections.
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