We won't fail Nigerians says Buhari

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.”