The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(rtd.), has declared that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan must respect the desire of Nigerians to have credible elections.
Speaking while addressing Eze Ndigbo of the 19 northern states and Abuja at his campaign office, in Abuja, on Friday, Buhari said he had realized the fact that multi-party democracy remained the best form of government since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Recalling that ordinary Nigerians did not leave him alone to enjoy his exit from power after being released from detention, he said they kept identifying with him even when they knew he was not rich.
According to the APC candidate, “I was sitting at home after leaving detention; I thought people will leave me alone because they know I am not rich. I don’t even own a filling station not to talk of oil blocks.
“So, I thought I lost their sympathy but people kept on coming to me; there was nothing I could do. And then I speculated that maybe if I join partisan politics, I will get into a position to be heard.”
Buhari argued that democracy as the best form of government will only make meaningful impact when the government respects the rights of citizens to elect those who govern them. He explained that there was an element of rebellion in every human being, making it imperative for a credible process to be put in place to allow people exercise their franchise.
He believed that this would guarantee peace and security in the country.
His words, “Let the government respect Nigerians as individuals, allow them to choose those they want to represent them and to lead them and Nigerians will be surprised to see how peaceful this country is going to be.
“I think in a part of every human being, there is an element of rebellion. If you try to force a human being to do what he doesn’t like, he will develop a way of resisting it but if you develop a system, you persuade him to accept the system, then justice must be done and you will be surprised house peacefully you will live; but if you try to force it, I am afraid, you will keep on suffering.”
Lamenting that the last 16 years of PDP rule had been a disaster, Buhari said, “Where were we 16 years ago when PDP took over this country? And where are we now? How much was the Naira then and how much is it now? The Naira now is about N230 to 1 US dollar and I think as a community, you are hit the most in Nigeria than anybody else.
“You are those that go out from Singapore to China, all over the world. You order things, you don’t order them in Naira; you order them in Dollars or pounds sterling or yen. Now you need trailers of Naira to maintain your business,” the APC candidate said.
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