President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari says he announced his second term bid in April to “save a lot of time and cool tempers”.
The president announced his intention to seek reelection at a
meeting of the national executive committee (NEC) of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking when he received the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC) at
the presidential villa on Friday, Buhari explained that some people are
in a “habit of being a nuisance to themselves and to many Nigerians” and his announcement was a challenge to those “who are serious.”
The president said Nigerians need to be involved in the election process.
“I had to announce before the national executive committee
(NEC) about my intention to ask for the party’s nomination for next
year’s election so that we can save a lot of time and cool tempers,” he said.
“A lot of people are trying to make it a habit of being a
nuisance to themselves and to many Nigerians. So when I announced my
intention, I said okay let those who are serious come out and I try to
make sure that the party is reorganise and consolidated so that we start
from bottom to top.
“So that Nigerians will be involved and that each constituency will pick those they want to represent them at various levels.
Whether local government chairmen, councillors, state house of
assemblies, house of representatives, senate and finally the presidency
itself.
“With this participation, some of the people who are educated
and sophisticated, they say for those who have got the money, bring the
money but we will still do what we want to do.
“Having tried three times and ended up in the supreme court and
I am lucky to be here the fourth time, I am very much aware of what is
going on from constituency to constituency.
I am very pleased, we thank God and we thank technology because
what use to happen that caused my ending up in supreme court, they will
just seat down, look at the constituency and award numbers and they
will say anybody who disagrees should go to court.”
Buhari appealed to Nigerians to get their permanent voter cards.
“Now, when somebody is looking for the next meal where will he
get money to pay SANs (senior advocate of Nigeria). But thank God
technology has come in. With PVCs (permanent voters card), with card
reader, wherever you register it will show whether you voted or not,” he said.
“That is why voters education is very important. Tell people
that the PVC is their nationality and they are entitled to it. They can
use across party, religion, ethnicity and so let them take pride in
their PVC, let them keep it and use it. So, this is an additional
assignment for your group.
“I have been talking to the governors urging them to carry out
voters education, it may not favour them but people will eventually
understand whether they tell the truth or not, people will do what they
feel right.”
On his part, Umaru Dembo, chairman of the BSGC, said the group is prepared to work for a “safe and prosperous Nigeria”.