President Muhammadu Buhari addressed members of the Buhari Support Group organisation Centre at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and explained the ‘real reason’ he declared his intention to run for second term early.
President Buhari said it is solely to checkmate the antics of mischief makers.
“I had to announce before the National Executive Committee (NEC) about my intention to ask for the party’s nomination for next year’s election so that we can save a lot of time and cool tempers.
“A lot of people are trying to make it a habit of being a nuisance to themselves and to many Nigerians. So when I announced my intention, I said okay let those who are serious come out and I try to make sure that the party is reorganize and consolidated so that we start from bottom to top. So that Nigerians will be involved and that each constituency will pick those they want to represent them at various levels. Whether local government chairmen, counselors, state house of assemblies, House of Representatives, Senate and finally the Presidency itself.
“With this participation, some of the people who are educated and sophisticated, they say for those who have got the money, bring the money but we will still do what we want to do.
Buhari announced his intention to run in April after months of speculation at a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership.
Buhari said, “I have to thank you for identifying yourself as a group consistently for all these years and getting nothing for it visibly. I think it is worthy of commendation and I am extending my personal appreciation for your principle.
“For you to identify openly with this organization all these years it means a lot. Thank you for your time, for meeting from time to time to consolidate on your tactics, I am sincerely grateful to you.
“Having tried three times and ended up in the Supreme Court and I am lucky to be here the fourth time, I am very much aware of what is going on from constituency to constituency. I am very pleased, we thank God and we thank technology because what use to happen that caused my ending up in Supreme Court, they will just seat down, look at the constituency and award numbers and they will say anybody who disagrees should go to court.
“Now, when somebody is looking for the next meal where will he get money to pay SANs (Senior Advocate of Nigeria). But thank God technology has come in. With PVCs (Permanent Voters Card), with Card Reader, wherever you register it will show whether you voted or not. That is why voters education is very important. Tell people that the PVC is their nationality and they are entitled to it. They can use across party, religion, ethnicity and so let them take pride in their PVC, let them keep it and use it.
“So, this is an additional assignment for your group.
“I have been talking to the governors urging them to carry out voters education, it may not Favour them but people will eventually understand whether they tell the truth or not, people will do what they feel right.
“So I thank you for all the sacrifices you have been making, I am very grateful.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC), Umaru Dembo, said the group has been in existence since 2014.
“Before you Mr President is the group that you yourself approved of in 2014 before your election and we still see you as a leader that has sacrificed his entire life for the well being of the common man in Nigeria. So have we through thick and thin, rain or sunshine, hot or cold we are here to assure Mr President that since 2014, we have been working, expanding and helping to explain the new life that your government has ushered in for the good of Nigerians.
“All of us and various groups attached to us will convey in various forms the successes of your government in the last three years.
“Boko Haram has been disbanded, Single Treasury Account implemented, farming to feed the nation in progress, petrol available, second Niger bridge in progress, roads, railways, Ajaokuta reclaimed, Mambilla Hydroelectric power and dam being built, dredging the Niger, new prisons and so many other developments and activities changing the face of Nigeria.”
The group also presented a book titled “Buhari The Change President” derailing the fantastic ‘activities of his administration authored by Dr Sani Muktar Bichi and Umaru Dembo.
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