Categories: News

Candidate Imposition Will No Longer Be Condoned – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari says the idea of going against the wish of people by unilaterally endorsing political aspirants from Abuja will no longer be tolerated.

Buhari, who spoke on Saturday after he revalidated his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his constituency in Daura, Katsina state, said the exercise is geared towards returning power to the people and putting them in position of strength when it comes to picking who they want to lead or represent them.

It is an unwritten rule and convention in Nigeria for powers that be to determine who gets what during party primary elections.

Buhari’s statement is a departure from the usual.

The president also accused the Nigerian elite of harassing his government, he appealed to them to be objective and honest in their assessment and appraisal of his administration.

He noted that the situation on ground when he came to power was dismal and dispiriting, so much so that they had to assist states governments in paying salaries.

He bemoaned years of mismanagement and embezzlement of the country’s wealth under previous administration, adding that APC does not have the same enormous resources and financial stability enjoyed by previous government.

“The problem is that I will like especially the elites to please be reflective. When we came, where we were, the resources available from them and the condition of the infrastructure. I was contrived to go over it several times to tell Nigerians that between 1999 and 2014, let them check with the NNPC, let them check with the governor of Central Bank, production was 2.4 million barrels per day and the average cost was $100 per barrel. So for a year’s daily production, Nigeria would earn having 2.4×100 dollars every day. But look at the condition of infrastructure, you know this better than I do,” Buhari said.

“I know I went to every local government of the country in my three consecutive attempts to become the President. You know the road more than I do. You know the condition of the rail, the railway is dead. Now look at it everywhere we go, what did they do with all these monies?

“When we took over the administration, production went down to about half a million barrels per day, the price collapsed. We had to do what is called a bailout, wherever we got the money from. Upon all the money from 1999 to 2014 we gave out money from the Centre to pay salaries. No, Nigerian elites are not interested in rating the competence but they are interested in harassing us with all efforts we are making”

Speaking on the essence of the registration and revalidation exercise, Buhari said his objective was to ensure that the party is returned to the people at the grassroots by starting from bottom-up.

“No more crowning from Abuja downward. Let the people know this and appreciate it that they are in charge of their constituencies and they are in charge of the party. Without any incentive, they must come out and defend the party at any level so that we, you, and the party will feel secure and comfortable because the old-time of putting hands in the pocket is over because the money is no longer available,” he said.

“You, who are in the field in charge of your constituencies, you have to make efforts to convince the elites to please give us the due relevance and respect we deserve that we are working so hard with limited resources.”