Explains why Nigeria needs a strong leader
Even before Major General Muhammadu Buhari retired, a former Head of State, emerged as the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress APC ahead of the 2015 general elections on Thursday, many book makers had predicted his victory. The prediction was predicated on what was described as the cult-like followership he enjoys, especially in the North. With a record of vying for the fourth time for the presidency, Buhari is challenging President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the 2015 presidential election. This interview gives a glimpse into the thinking of the APC presidential candidate on governance, corruption, insecurity, the economy, etc. Excerpts:
Some people look at you and the feeling they immediately get is one of amazement, others express amusement, while some are just bewildered a few even pooh-pooh your ambition, describing you as a permanent presidential candidate. There must be a spirit that propels you because having contested twice before and seeing how it went, you are in the race again this time around, what is that driving force?
I am hoping that Nigerians would eventually be allowed to choose their presidential material. I am going to refer you to the Electoral Act 2003 and 2006 as well as the Electoral Act of 2010 and 2011 as amended. I am also going to refer you to the judgment of the Supreme Court in December 2008 on the matter and you will find out that the way our presidential materials emerged was not the proper way. The judgment placed so much doubt on the outcome of that election that it split the Supreme Court into two. The records are there. Three Justices said the elections were not held properly and that they had their facts and the others said well we had to stabilize the polity and that conducting another election at that time would not be auspicious. The Chief Justice cast his last vote. For me, it is about doing good and the people give me the drive.