March 12, 2015 – Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari today called on Nigerians, especially the youths to resist any attempt to further shift the general elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11.
Buhari who was addressing students and youths in Lagos said timely, free and fair election is key to protecting democracy. According to him, the whole idea of this election is to “save and rescue” the country from free economic fall, insecurity and unemployment.
Buhari said the Nigerian public must be aware that the current competition in the polity is already getting out hands, with all manner of ploy to resist change.
“It is a question of saving the country from free fall. I have not come here to make promises to you, but to tell you that we have a duty to save our nation. And that is what March 28 and April 11 election dates are all about. No Nigeria should accept any postponement because there is no constitutional provision for postponement. We must conduct election and it must be free, fair and credible,” he said
He said the APC had identified three problems facing the country, mainly insecurity: Boko Haram in the northeast, militancy in the southeast and pockets of restiveness in the southwest.
“Important issue for us is insecurity. Second issue is unemployment, and it affects you all, that still have more than 40 years to go. No matter how well I love to live, there is no way I live another 40 years. I want you to reflect how lives have been in the last 16 years of the PDP-led government. What is the strength of the naira from when they took over and now? It is now over N220 to one dollar.
To revamp the system, there is need for trillions of naira but where will they get it from? PDP has killed this country in the last 16 years. If we don’t kill corruption in Nigeria, it will kill Nigeria. Many of us are still here because we have nowhere to go in the world than to stay in Nigeria.
“Our objective is to throw away PDP and rehabilitate our country. We will not be distracted by their plans and smear campaign. The problem of Boko Haram went haywire when the police arrested and killed their leaders, instead of prosecuting them.
In his remarks, Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola said that Buhari has untainted record. “I have said this to help you make informed decision and not on the basis of what your friend chooses. Buhari is contesting because past leaders have failed to keep their promises”, he said.
