Buhari declares for 2015 Presidential Race

Former military Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari has finally declared his intention to vie for the 2015 presidency on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three-time contender for the presidency of the country, while declaring his interest in Abuja also restated his belief in the efficacy of adopting a consensus arrangement to decide which aspirant should fly the APC flag at the presidential election. Buhari, who addressed a gathering of various youth support groups from around the country in Abuja yesterday, said he would make himself available for nomination alongside other aspirants of the party.

“With your support, I intend to offer myself for the position of the president of the republic on the platform of our great party. I intend to make a formal announcement soon,” he said.

With his declaration of interest, Buhari would be making his fourth attempt at winning the presidency, having contested thrice in the past and lost.

Speaking on what he and the opposition party have in stock for Nigerians, Buhari said: “We shall develop this land and go after prosperity and get it for our long-suffering people.”

Buhari, who lamented government’s failings in the area of security and the fight against corruption, said if elected president, his government would be accountable and honest.
He said the only way to bring about meaningful change in the country is to vote the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of power to which it was never legitimately elected.

Buhari, whose supporters were blamed for allegedly taking to violent protests following the outcome of the 2011 presidential election, cautioned the youth support groups to always accept results as pronounced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, APC had risen to become a formidable and credible opposition party with solid support in every part of the country, adding that the APC had made all necessary preparations to take PDP out of office, “and we will give PDP a good run for their money”.

“Not only must you not take the law into your hands, no matter the level of provocation, you must be able to expose those planning to do so before they act.

“I know that it is painful for you to see votes you cast being disregarded and votes illegally thumb printed being accepted, punted to rig out the choice that you have legitimately and conclusively made.

“And it is even more painful when you know that the road to remedy has been firmly shut in your face, for you are always called on to accept a judgment whose justice you cannot see, whose logic is flawed and whose facts speak against itself,” he said.

The former head of state however assured party members of the preparedness of APC to checkmate rigging, saying: “It has put in place mechanisms that will permanently put an end to rigging in this country.”

Buhari told the youth groups that their support must go beyond back his candidacy to giving their votes for all the party’s candidates.