President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, reassured Nigerians that
the incoming government of All Progressives Congress, APC, will not fail
them.
Buhari, who hosted a delegation from Taraba State, also said by the end
of his tenure in 2019, Nigerians would be confident of a society where
elections would be free, fair and credible. Also, to underscore his
inclination to the rule of law, the President-elect directed security
personnel attached to his convoy to always heed traffic regulations and
stop at red lights.
The President-elect also said the advent of the technology of card
reader and the will of the Nigerians have redefined the electoral system
in Nigerian.
He said: “I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria political history as
a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what is multi
party democracy. But we thank God for technology, PVC and card reader
and the insistence of constituencies to make sure they are used.
“However, in two political zones where they were subverted, the people
wanted to vote, but they were not allowed to vote and they continued
with what they used to do in their party offices or their sitting rooms,
where they would write the results, go to radio house and television
house and announce the result and say whoever does not accept the result
should go to court.
“How many people can go to court when they are struggling to get the
next day’s meal? Where will they get the millions to give to those
Senior Advocates of Nigeria. I was able to do it because of the goodwill
of Nigeria which again demonstrated itself this year.
“People agreed that I am not a very rich man, but I was lucky that
Nigerians believe in me and they put their strength together, voted and
made sure that their votes count. I say thanks to the technology. Please
continue to support those among you that you feel will go and work for
your state and for the country. I assure you that the government of the
APC, when eventually put in place, will be a competent Nigerian
government.
“We will never betray the people because they have risked everything.
Some even lost their lives in this course to make sure that APC succeed
and that we have a leadership in place that they can trust and that is
what multi party democracy is all about.”
He further stated: “I will tell you what made me a multi party democrat.
In 1991, after coming out of detention, I was sitting at home and the
Soviet Union collapsed.
They were the world power fighting the western world. They had more
sophisticated weapons, but something happened. “There was confusion and
everybody went away. Today, there are 18 countries from the former
Soviet Union. That was when I believed that multi party democratic
system is a superior form of governance and that is why I joined
democracy.
“We have made a big stride this year and I assure you, God willing, if
we survive the next four years, Nigerians will be in a position to
confidently raise their head and elect their representatives and
leaders. “They will choose those they want as their representatives from
local government, states and to the centre.
I will fight for free, fair and credible election because that is why I
remain in politics. I thank you very much for the sacrifices you have
made to make sure we succeeded.”
In regards to ther rule of law, Buhari has directed security personnel
attached to his convoy to always heed traffic regulations and stop at
red lights at traffic points.
“Without leadership by example, the ordinary citizens would become
copycats of the lawlessness of their leaders,” Buhari was quoted as
saying in a statement issued by his media office last night.
The President-elect, who currently stops at every traffic light,
promised to continue with the tradition as president as a way of
demystifying the arrogance in power. Buhari was further quoted as saying
that the “arrogance of power, lawlessness and disregard for the rights
and convenience of fellow citizens would have no place in his
government.”
The statement quoted Buhari as saying that for leaders to inspire
respect, they must obey the laws of the country, adding that when
leaders treat the country’s laws with contempt, they send the wrong
message to the citizens. Buhari lamented a situation where fellow
citizens are punished at traffic points and public roads because of the
“arrogant lawlessness of the leaders.”
