President Muhammadu Buhari, has assured Nigerians that his administration will ensure a free and fair transition as the nation prepares for another round of elections in 2019, stressing that there was a need to sustain efforts at building confidence in the country’s democratic institutions, especially judiciary and INEC.
The President gave this assurance while delivering his keynote address at the 15th Daily Trust Dialogue held in Abuja on Thursday with the theme “Nigeria and the challenges of 2019” adding that former President Jonathan has set the tone for credible elections in 2015.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the President also called on politicians and political parties to pledge their commitment to peaceful democratic process by urging their supporters to respect the electoral process and refrain from violence. He said that all aggrieved parties should seek redress through constitutional means and respect for the rules of law.
“On our part I want to assure Nigerians that my administration will not condone any action, support any individual or group that undermines citizens’ confidence in the country’s political institutions to conduct peaceful and successful elections.”
Meanwhile former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, has advised the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to leave the party alleging that serving governors were being used against him even as he stated that Tinubu as a progressive is wasting his time in APC describing the ruling party as a “ wrong party.”
Lamido, a chieftain of the main opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) made the comments in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the Daily Trust Dialogue by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, saying the coming 2019 general will be defined “by what APC is all about.”
He stressed that the APC is a party without history, alleging that the ruling party won the 2015 general elections on “lies and propaganda.”
The formerJigawa state governor noted that Tinubu can only reintegrate himself as a democrat when he leaves the APC, saying “Tell Asiwaju that his brother and friend says he is in a wrong party. He will only recover and reintegrate himself as a democrat if he leaves the APC.
“Buhari never attended any meeting of former Heads of state while Yar’ adua was president. But he was the first person to arrive the meeting after Yar’ adua’s death.
“APC won in 2015 by creating disaffection among families. In Gusau, they went from house to house flogging PDP members.
“APC is telling us what government should do after three years in power. APC should tell us what they failed to do.
“They call Nigerians wailing wailers for complaining. Thankfully, wailing will be over in 2019.
“APC members have joined the wailing wailers. Buhari is wailing. His wife is wailing. Sagay is wailing, Akande is wailing, everybody is wailing.”
Lamido praised former President Jonathan for accepting the results of the 2015 general elections, saying “I hope @APC and Mohammadu Buhari would have the honour to concede in 2019 when Nigerians vote them out, just the same way Goodluck Jonathan and PDP did in 2015.”
Lamido, who described APC as a coalition of desperate politicians, also said that the ruling party was “fantastic in telling lies.”
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
