Buhari in London, Says He’s a Reformed Democrat

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has said no corrupt politician will be appointed into his administration if he is elected president, proclaiming nonetheless that he is a reformed democrat ready to operate under democratic norms.

Buhari, who delivered a speech on Thursday at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House in London, also assured the international community that an APC-led government would ensure economic and political stability of the country.

He also said his administration would choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels through border controls and would take measures to tackle its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan, promoting infrastructure development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

The APC candidate, whose speech at Chatham House was preceded by pro and anti-Buhari protests, said corrupt persons would be screened out from his administration.

He however allayed fears of the war against corruption being turned into means of settling old scores or a witch-hunt.

“But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I’m running for president to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity.

“There will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and corrupt persons will not be appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process.

“Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and customs and excise will have one set of books only,” he said.

Buhari also addressed the issue of reforming the economy, saying: “We will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and the proceeds recovered from corruption to fund our party’s social investments programmes in education, health and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly.”

He listed several aspects of the party’s manifesto, saying a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria's economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption.

Buhari, who said he is now a converted democrat, promised if elected, to lead the way, with the force of personal example.

While replying critics of his past role as a military dictator, Buhari said he had discarded the past and has sufficiently imbibed the democratic culture.

“I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time,” he said.

On insecurity, the APC presidential candidate said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government had failed in any effort “towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours to come to our rescue”.

“Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently; that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa; and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service.

“We will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunition to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering and border controls to choke Boko Haram's financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan, promoting infrastructure development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas,” he said.

Answering questions from the inconceivably large crowd that attended the event, Buhari noted that nobody has the power to turn the country into a Sharia state, as doing that would amount to changing the constitution, “which is practically impossible at this time”.

Buhari said that there were other reasons why Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focused on this year’s elections.

According to him, the foremost reason stemmed from the fact that the elections would be holding in the shadow of huge security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa’s most populous country and largest economy.

“On insecurity, there is a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure.

“Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium.

“What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency,” he told his audience.

Also, Buhari, in an interview with Channels television, on the sidelines of the event, allayed allegations that he had travelled to the UK on medical ground, stating that in addition to his speech and meeting with his supporters in London, he decided to take time out to get a well-deserved rest, having campaigned non-stop for weeks in 35 states of the federation.

Prior to his address at the institute, supporters of APC and the ruling PDP had converged on Chatham House as early as 8.30 am GMT, chanting all songs aimed at dwarfing each other.

They also brandished placards boldly inscribed with words of support and against Buhari, and despite the rain that started shortly after the APC presidential candidate had started his speech, none of the supporters agreed to budge.

The situation almost got out of control when the demonstrators who were either hired, as alleged from different quarters, blocked the road at St James Square, venue of the event.

Their protests attracted more policemen who were deployed to keep them in check.

Some of the governors and APC leaders seen at Chatham House included Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Adams Oshiomohole (Edo), Bola Tinubu and Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

 

Source: Thisdaylive