Press statement from APC presidential candidate General
Muhammadu Buhari on the election postponement...
We Must Remain Calm but Resolute
Following the decision by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the 2015 general elections by six
weeks, I wish to appeal for utmost restraint and calm by all Nigerians,
especially the teeming supporters of our great party, the All Progressives
Congress (APC).
This postponement, which comes on the heels of the bogey
of the National Security Adviser that half of the registered voters were being disenfranchised
was exposed as a crude and fraudulent attempt to subvert the electoral process.
The PDP administration has now engineered a postponement
using the threat that security will not be guaranteed across the length and breadth
of Nigeria because of military engagement in some states in the North
East.
It is important to note that although INEC acted within
its constitutional powers, it is clear that it has been boxed into a situation
where it has had to bow to pressure. Thus, the independence of INEC has been
gravely compromised.
As a Nigerian and a presidential candidate in the
elections, I share in the disappointment and frustration of this decision. This
postponement coming a week to the first election has raised so many questions,
many of which shall be asked in the days ahead. However, we must not allow
ourselves to be tempted into taking actions that could further endanger the
democratic process.
Our country is going through a difficult time in the
hands of terrorists. Any act of violence can only complicate the security
challenges in the country and provide further justification to those who would
want to exploit every situation to frustrate the democratic process in the face
of certain defeat at the polls.
If anything, this postponement should strengthen our
resolve and commitment to rescue our country from the current economic and
social collapse from this desperate band. Our desire for change must surpass
their desperation to hold on to power at all cost. We are clearly dealing with people who feel
they can get away with placing their personal interest over those of our nation
and its citizens. What is at stake is the very survival of our country. We must
not allow this temporary delay to abort this great opportunity. While I share the pains and frustrations of
my fellow citizens over this development, my deep faith in the democratic
process assures me that this country, with your support, will overcome.
We must remain resolute and rise above all provocations.
We must continue to trust in the entire democratic process and in INEC, which
has been brought under so much pressure in the last few days. Our trust can
only serve to encourage the electoral body to remain steadfast and remain
committed to the rule of law. I wish to
state strongly that our party will not
tolerate any further interference with the electoral process. The rescheduled
elections of March 28th and April 11th, 2015 must be sacrosanct.
Nigeria is definitely greater than any of us, and much
more important than our individual ambitions. Before us there was Nigeria, and
long after we are gone there will still be Nigeria. Let us continue to do our part to make it
thegreat country that it should be. We
must rescue our dear country. God being
on our side, we shall salvage Nigeria together.
God Bless Nigeria!
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Party,
APC.
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