At 71, Buhari Declares for Presidency Says $20bn Equal 3000 Megawatts of Power

October 15, 2014 -Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari today in Abuja declared his intention to contest for the 2015 general elections if his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) picks him as candidate of the party.

Buhari is one of those seeking to fly the APC flag in 2015. Other serious candidates are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Kano State Governor, Mr. Rabiu Kwankwanso and Publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah. The not too serious among them are Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Buhari is making the declaration at the age of 71 having been born December 17, 1942. He has also contested the position three times, in 2003, 2007 and 2011, losing in all occasion.

Buhari made the declaration in the presence of Chairman Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and that of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole among others.

Also in attendant were senators among which is Senator Oluremi Tinubu but his husband Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was absence for strategic reasons even though most of his boys were present.

Speaking during his declaration, Buhari said Nigerians today live in fear for several reasons, Boko Haram in the North East, kidnapping, armed robbery and corruption.

While appreciating the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in fighting Boko Haram, said declared: “ I hereby present myself before you, before all Nigerians and before God seeking to be elected as APC Presidential candidate’, he said.

He said that Nigeria’s economy has been on the decline since 1999 that the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) took over government in Nigeria adding that though government boosts growth in the economy, key indicators suggests otherwise adding that his party is determined to wrest power from the PDP.

According to him, since 1999 when the PDP took over, power generation was 4000 megawatts adding that 15 years down the line after investing $20 billion, Nigeria today generates a little over 3,000 megawatts.