Buhari: PDP hell-bent on stealing forever

Retired General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday formally declared he would run for president, criticising President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for corruption, ineptitude and divisive tendencies.He said at a ceremony in Abuja that the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presided over the country’s “decline” for 15 years and is still hell bent on stealing forever.“Since 1999, PDP has […]

Retired General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday formally declared he would run for president, criticising President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for corruption, ineptitude and divisive tendencies.
He said at a ceremony in Abuja that the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presided over the country’s “decline” for 15 years and is still hell bent on stealing forever.
“Since 1999, PDP has presided over our country’s decline. Nigeria in my experience has never been so divided, so polarised by an unthinking government hell bent on ruling and stealing forever,” he said.
“We in APC are resolved to stop them in their tracks and rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of PDP.”
Buhari spoke to the cheering of thousands of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Eagle Square.
His declaration came weeks after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar announced joining the race for APC’s presidential ticket. The party’s primaries are scheduled for December 2.
Buhari berated the Federal Government for failing to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency and other of security concerns in the country.
“Nearly all are in fear of their lives or safety for themselves and their families due to insurgency by the godless movement called Boko Haram; by marauding murderers in towns; and villages by armed robbers on the highways; by kidnappers who have put whole communities to fright and sometimes to flight,” he said.
“It is everyone’s duty to resolve and help the national effort to overcome these immense challenges. I would like us to place on record our appreciation for the efforts of our Armed Forces under new leadership and Police in confronting these challenges.”
Buhari said interference in the electoral process and election rigging by the PDP since 2003 denied Nigerians the chance to express their choices, which he said was the worst form of injustice meted out to them.
He reminded the ruling party that injustice does not endure the test of time, as a time will come when it must be stopped
Buhari lamented that the decline in power supply has stifled manufacturing, agriculture, and commercial activities while unemployment continued to rise.
“When PDP came into power in 1999, Nigeria was generating about 4000 Megawatts of electricity. After 15 years and $20 billion spent we are generating between 3000 to 4000 megawatts. No failure is more glaring than this,” he said.
Presenting a nine-point policy which he said was based on the philosophy of his party, Buhari promised to emphasise the protection of lives, pursuit of economic policies for shared prosperity and attention on youth employment and provision of quality education for development, modernity and social mobility.
His other areas of priority include increasing agricultural productivity to reduce poverty, reviving industries to create employment, developing solid minerals exploitation to generate revenue and create employment, and restoring honour and integrity in public service.
Buhari also pledged to tackle corruption which according to him has portrayed Nigeria as its home.
He also emphasised the need for respecting the constitutional provision of separation of power among the three arms of government and respecting the rights of citizens. He said it was in that regard that the opposition parties came together to form the APC as a united front.
The event was attended by many party leaders, including four state governors, namely Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Umaru Al-Makura (Nasarawa). There were also representatives of the governors of Osun, Kwara and Sokoto.
Also at the event were APC National Secretary Mai Mala Buni, National Woman Leader Ramatu Tijjani, former Bayelsa governor Timipre Sylva, former PDP national chairman Audu Ogbeh, former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Masari, Professor Tam David-West, Adamawa State APC chairperson Binta Masi Garba, and many senators including Senator Remi Tinubu and George Akume.
If he wins the APC ticket, Buhari will face President Goodluck Jonathan, who the PDP has already chosen as sole candidate ahead of its December 6 primaries.
It will be Buhari’s fourth consecutive attempt at winning the presidency since 2003.