The President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari Wednesday promised to reform the country’s electoral systemn even as he warned his security operatives not to flout traffic laws.
Buhari made the promise when the delegation of Taraba State All Progressives Congress led by the governorship candidate, Sen. Aisha Al-Hassan paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.
Addressing the delegation, Buhari stated that Nigerians would be confident of a society where elections would be free, fair and credible by the end of his tenure.
The President-elect gave the assurance of the electoral reform sequel to the experiences of the APC governorship candidate in Taraba State in the last election.
Senator Al-Hassan, who lost the Taraba State governorship election rerun to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate is in the Election Tribunal contesting the result of the election.
Buhari, supporting her actions stated that he was in courts for several years over electoral frauds to fight for his rights.
He said: “It is a battle well fought and I am very pleased that you have taken the honourable way out. According to the Nigerian constitution, you may go to court. I was there three times and ended up in the Supreme Court. Sometimes, people wonder why I tried so hard. I tried so hard because it is a system I believe in. I believe that multi party democratic system is the best form of governance with a big caveat that election must be free and fair.
“Really, this is why I am in it. I was in APP. I joined partisan politics in April 2002 and on that date, at my ward, I said that those who knew me, and myself, following my career antecedents in the military, if I tell people that I will participate in partisan politics, people would not believe it and I will not also believe it. But I found myself in it and I never turned back.
“Within one year, APP gave me the ticket. There were governors, senators and much older people than me, but all the same, I got the ticket. I lost, I was in court for 30 months. In 2007, we tried to have a limited merger and became ANPP and again, I participated and was told I lost.
“I went to court for 20 months up to the Supreme Court and I felt that my party was not fair to me. While I was in court, the leadership of the party proceeded and took two marginal ministries in late Yar’Adua’s cabinet and an adviser position. For that disgraceful behaviour by the party leadership, I left the party and we floated the CPC.
“Again, I attempted in 2011 and lost and again, I was in court for about eight months and I contested now for the fourth time under APC having successfully gone through with the merger of the three legacy parties.
“So, Aisha, don’t give up. You are young and this is your first attempt. I contested three times and this is my fourth attempt. I hope that you succeed in the court. I am impressed by the quality of Taraba people you brought here.”
The president-elect, also said that the advent of the technology of card reader and the will of the Nigerians people has redefined the electoral system in Nigerian.
And in a related development, Gen. Buhari Wednesday gave directives to his security aides to obey traffic rules during his movement.
In a statement released by Director of Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja, General Buhari said law abiding would be the guiding philosophy of his administration, adding “without leadership by example, the ordinary citizens would become copycats of the lawlessness of their leaders.”
The President-elect explained that the “arrogance of power, lawlessness and disregard for the rights and convenience of fellow citizens would have no place in his government.”
According to him, for leaders to inspire respect, they must obey the laws of country, adding that when leaders treat the country’s laws with contempt, they might send the wrong message to the citizens.
General Buhari lamented a situation where fellow citizens are punished at traffic points and public roads because of the “arrogant lawlessness of the leaders.”
He said in a democracy, leaders should not inflict inconveniences and other unbearable ordeals on the citizens for their own comfort.
Source:New Telegraph on line
Buhari made the promise when the delegation of Taraba State All Progressives Congress led by the governorship candidate, Sen. Aisha Al-Hassan paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.
Addressing the delegation, Buhari stated that Nigerians would be confident of a society where elections would be free, fair and credible by the end of his tenure.
The President-elect gave the assurance of the electoral reform sequel to the experiences of the APC governorship candidate in Taraba State in the last election.
Senator Al-Hassan, who lost the Taraba State governorship election rerun to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate is in the Election Tribunal contesting the result of the election.
Buhari, supporting her actions stated that he was in courts for several years over electoral frauds to fight for his rights.
He said: “It is a battle well fought and I am very pleased that you have taken the honourable way out. According to the Nigerian constitution, you may go to court. I was there three times and ended up in the Supreme Court. Sometimes, people wonder why I tried so hard. I tried so hard because it is a system I believe in. I believe that multi party democratic system is the best form of governance with a big caveat that election must be free and fair.
“Really, this is why I am in it. I was in APP. I joined partisan politics in April 2002 and on that date, at my ward, I said that those who knew me, and myself, following my career antecedents in the military, if I tell people that I will participate in partisan politics, people would not believe it and I will not also believe it. But I found myself in it and I never turned back.
“Within one year, APP gave me the ticket. There were governors, senators and much older people than me, but all the same, I got the ticket. I lost, I was in court for 30 months. In 2007, we tried to have a limited merger and became ANPP and again, I participated and was told I lost.
“I went to court for 20 months up to the Supreme Court and I felt that my party was not fair to me. While I was in court, the leadership of the party proceeded and took two marginal ministries in late Yar’Adua’s cabinet and an adviser position. For that disgraceful behaviour by the party leadership, I left the party and we floated the CPC.
“Again, I attempted in 2011 and lost and again, I was in court for about eight months and I contested now for the fourth time under APC having successfully gone through with the merger of the three legacy parties.
“So, Aisha, don’t give up. You are young and this is your first attempt. I contested three times and this is my fourth attempt. I hope that you succeed in the court. I am impressed by the quality of Taraba people you brought here.”
The president-elect, also said that the advent of the technology of card reader and the will of the Nigerians people has redefined the electoral system in Nigerian.
And in a related development, Gen. Buhari Wednesday gave directives to his security aides to obey traffic rules during his movement.
In a statement released by Director of Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu in Abuja, General Buhari said law abiding would be the guiding philosophy of his administration, adding “without leadership by example, the ordinary citizens would become copycats of the lawlessness of their leaders.”
The President-elect explained that the “arrogance of power, lawlessness and disregard for the rights and convenience of fellow citizens would have no place in his government.”
According to him, for leaders to inspire respect, they must obey the laws of country, adding that when leaders treat the country’s laws with contempt, they might send the wrong message to the citizens.
General Buhari lamented a situation where fellow citizens are punished at traffic points and public roads because of the “arrogant lawlessness of the leaders.”
He said in a democracy, leaders should not inflict inconveniences and other unbearable ordeals on the citizens for their own comfort.
Source:New Telegraph on line
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