Even before Major General Muhammadu Buhari
(retired), a former Head of State, emerged as the
presidential candidate of the opposition All
Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015
general elections on Thursday, many book makers
had predicted his victory. The prediction was
predicated on what was described as the cult-like
followership he enjoys, especially in the North.
With a record of vying for the fourth time for the
presidency, Buhari is challenging President
Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election. This
interview gives a glimpse into the thinking of the
APC presidential candidate on governance,
corruption, insecurity, the economy, etc. Excerpts:
Some people look at you and the feeling they
immediately get is one of amazement, others
express amusement, while some are just
bewildered; a few even pooh-pooh your ambition,
describing you as a permanent presidential
candidate. There must be a spirit that propels you
because having contested twice before and seeing
how it went, you are in the race again this time
around, what is that driving force?
I am hoping that Nigerians would eventually be
allowed to choose their presidential material.
I am going to refer you to the Electoral Act 2003
and 2006 as well as the Electoral Act of 2010 and
2011 as amended. I am also going to refer you to
the judgment of the Supreme Court in December
2008 on the matter and you will find out that the
way our presidential materials emerged was not
the proper way. The judgment placed so much
doubt on the outcome of that election that it split
the Supreme Court into two. The records are
there. Three Justices said the elections were not
held properly and that they had their facts and the
others said well we had to stabilize the polity and
that conducting another election at that time would
not be auspicious. The Chief Justice cast his last
vote.
For me, it is about doing good and the people give
me the drive.
The President took a swipe at some former
Nigerian leaders, describing them as those who
have destroyed our economy and coming out now
to complain. You have ruled this country once
before and one of your economic policies was
Counter Trade. Looking at the economy today,
what are those things you would point at that are
fundamental to making the economy prosperous?
I am not an economist but with my experience, it
is about the indiscipline and lack of probity of the
PDP government because they have been the
government in charge in the last 12 years and so
let nobody come out and blame others for the
woes of their party which they have foisted on the
nation.
Which ever leadership the President was referring
to could not have been any other leadership but
the PDP leadership that is so corrupt and inept
and undisciplined.
Just go and take a look at our earnings since 1999
and tell me that we have proper records or that we
have spent the money judiciously.
Okay, again, take a look at the state of our
infrastructure now and tell me that since the PDP
took over in 1999, things have really been far
better than they were before they took over.
You are a Nigerian and you know what I am talking
about.
You have spoken in general terms but were you to
make a presentation to the business community,
what are those things you would be telling them
about your economic agenda – in specific terms?
Firstly, let us secure our country.
It means anything that comes to this country
should be secure, but with people being
kidnapped, armed robbery, bombings here and
there, bad roads, fraudulent practices, nobody
would come in and invest in quantum, nobody
would bring substantial investment into this
country, we are all joking. Which investor would
bring money into the country and then you kidnap
his manager and the money you are asking for as
ransom is far more than the money he even wants
to come and invest in the country, nobody would
agree to that.
What the PDP governments in the past ought to
have done is to properly manage this country and
one of the best ways of doing that is by putting the
infrastructure right and which would support the
resuscitation of industries – that is power. Then
there is the issue of roads and making
transportation less of a burden for the people.
Between Lagos and, say, Kano, you’ll be surprised
that the number of road blocks on the road is as
much as 50, with officers and men of the Customs,
the police, FRSC, and almost all demanding for
money – this kills the spirit. The PDP cannot
escape responsibility for the mismanagement of
the country and its economy. Under the PDP,
everything has been going from bad to worse.
Give two examples?
The Jos and the Niger Delta crises!
What solutions would you proffer?
It is not about telling them what to do which I have
as plans but we have to understand how the
problem developed?
The ruling party must first accept responsibility for
the failure of the nation before we can begin to talk
about solutions. Let our people be honest about
where they have dragged this country to.
These are facts.
Buhari
But apart from the ruling party, the psyche of
Nigerians has been beaten so badly that no matter
how bad we complain about a government in
power, the minute that administration leaves and
another one comes in, people begin to say the
past administration, which they lampooned so
much, was even better. The Sani Abacha
government, too, at some point in the life of the
Obasanjo administration was beginning to gain
primacy. How did we get to this level as a people,
using your experience as a former head of state?
It is a correct reflection.
You are absolutely correct; you are very correct
and it is a correct reflection of how bad things
have become.
Even you were a victim of this same mentality.
During your regime, people started complaining
that even the civilians were not as bad as you
were, but after your government was toppled, and
the new regime came and the value of the Naira at
some stage began to nose-dive, people also said
even the Buhari government would have done
better?
You are correct.
Just go and check the level of decay in the
infrastructure and you’ll have a sense of why that
observation is correct. Look at power and the
money allegedly spent, what can we show for it?
Look at the roads; look at water, people buy water
in every part of this country.
I do not think anybody can factually defend the
incompetence, indiscipline and corruption of the
PDP; I don’t think anybody can defend it with
facts. Nobody can do it.
And it is up to Nigerians to vote the PDP out.
Everything you have said paints a picture of
hopelessness and helplessness. Why is it that the
Nigerian people abhor righteousness. You brought
War Against Indiscipline, WAI, which people
applauded but suddenly, you were thrown out and
the same people said ‘ah, thank God he’s no
more’. Is there any hope that Nigerians would
ever get a leader that would mean well and be
allowed to do well by the elites?
That is the point, to the extent that Nigerians have
to make the sacrifice of making sure that elections
are allowed to be free and fair.
Kano and Lagos proved that Nigerians can elect
the leaders they want. It happened in these states.
I thank God that so far so good, I am satisfied that
Nigerians are beginning to demonstrate that they
would not allow the PDP to steal their votes again.
That way, they can vote into power the people
they want and, if they are not satisfied with their
performance, they can again vote them out at the
appropriate time and vote in those who would
perform.
It is becoming very clear in today’s world that you
can not have democracy on a platter of gold; you
have to fight for it. You have to fight for it. And
Kano and Lagos fought it without casualties and
they proved the point and that is our only way out.
There are fears in some quarters and it is serious.
Some people say a General Muhammadu Buhari
becoming President and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces would spell doom for a section
of the elites. There are even talks that some
people would just head for exile. I’m sure you’ve
heard this talk before. What would be your
response?
Well, it would appear that individuals are free to
live wherever they choose to live and live
comfortably.
Individuals are also very free to leave the country if
they so choose especially since they would be
able to afford it.
Those of us who are sentenced to live in Nigeria
will continue to live in this country because, to us,
we do not have any other country than this and we
would not leave the country and go and seek
comfort in another country.
Well, if people would feel unsafe, they can leave
the country.
We will continue here.
What I’m trying to say relates to a possible witch
hunt; some people may be afraid based on past
deeds?
If people feel unsafe to live under some leadership
in Nigeria because of what they have done or
because of some atrocities they have committed in
the past and, therefore, would not feel safe to live
under some type of leadership in the country, then
may be they are using their sixth sense.
I ask that as a preamble to the issue of corruption
in Nigeria. At a point, the index gave hope, but, at
some other time, the index showed the opposite
went down again and some people say the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
is not doing enough to fight corruption? How
would you tackle the issue of corruption?
One of the things that the we will do is to
strengthen the institutions.
We already have the police.
We have said that security, prosperity will bring
stability. We have been harping on these three
things before.
If we empower the police, it will do its work very
well.
There are too many boards or commissions
handling this or handling that.
We will look at the ones that would still be
relevant to strengthen the police.
Will will make the military more efficient by
training and re-training and also by providing
equipment and machinery.
EFCC, there are volumes of representations which
they can not cover because of inadequate
manpower or lack of resources.
We will do our best to strengthen the institutions
by managing resources judiciously.
We have financial regulations in every department
and every ministry and in every state and they
have to work.
There must be a proper accounting of public funds
in all the three tiers of government and what is
lacking is that judicious use of public funds. This
is the aim of the CPC.
People say you are a good man and that you mean
well?
(Cuts in) Thank you very much Jide.
The question is: You would not be in every
ministry or every government department or
agency to properly monitor these things. So, how
much confidence would you have in your point
man because you gave an instance of politicians
attempting to highjack elective tickets?
The laws and regulations on accountability in all
these places you have talked about are not lacking
at all. People just choose to do what they like.
People just refuse to respect the laws of the
country.
What we would do is to ensure that there is proper
and judicious use of the country’s resources for
the good of the people. The laws are there.
You remember when Obama went to Ghana, he
said what Africa needs are strong institutions and
not strong people. In the case of Nigeria, I dare to
say that we are unique.
We need strong people to create those institutions
and they strengthen those institutions for
effectiveness.
The truth is that, without a strong and clean
leadership, Nigeria cannot be stabilized.
The other side of the coin is that you may not
even be able to strengthen the institutions if you
are not strong and firm as a leader.
Followership and leadership: Which one should
come first?
Look, Nigerians can not be taken for granted any
more.
As a state governor, you can not be stealing state
funds and then expect the people to fall in line and
be disciplined.
It will never work.
Everybody responsible for some part of the
treasury would also be pocketing the money
because they know what the governor is doing.
If the President of the country is spending monies
outside the approved budget or acts outside the
approved regulations from the Office of the
Accountant General, Nigerians would rise against
such a person and would not even obey such a
leader and they’ll do whatever they like.
That is why we have had this mess on ground
since 1999.
The infrastructure we met, we refused to build new
ones and even the ones on ground were not being
properly maintained.
Don’t forget, we used to have four functional
refineries in this country with more than 480, 000
bpd capacity.
We had more than 20 depots.
I don’t know how many pumping stations.
We had more than 3,500 kilometre length of
pipelines.
The PDP government could not maintain them;
instead, we are importing petroleum products at
world market prices, something that we produce in
this country.
This is the height of corruption, killing the
petroleum industry which the country depends on.
Why can’t we refine our own crude and sell in our
own country?
Instead, we give people contracts to import
products and sell to Nigerians at world prices.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/m-u-h-m-m-d-u-b-u-h-r-interview-want-flee-take-free-run/

Mr man,arrange this rubbish

Any one looking for country to run to contact = iwanjacommot@outlook.com

.

@Op, please if I didn't read your long novel, can I comment?

Pa Buhari will unleash with a million cows
So if people fail to flee now, no one should blame GMB


#mycharitycomment.

Very Soon Political Arm Robbers Will Start To Lobby For Amnesty.

Hmmmm.. I don't even knw what to write or say?... If buhari is talking like this then our nation is shaking. Buhari should united nigeria bt is word make me think otherwise...

If u pick GEJ ahead of him as a credible president, then ur reasoning should be questioned

chamboy:
Any one looking for country to run to contact = iwanjacommot@outlook.com

I think Doyin Okupe, Ifeanyi Uba, Farouk Lawan, Labaran Maku, Allison-Madueke et al will soon be be in touch.

I think its high time we arrange all our aboki brothers in the northern side and put GMB as the first president of ARIWA COUNTRY endosed by IRAN,IRAG,SOMALIA etc so all this will end and peace will reign for once!!!

I am in support of whosoever will move this country foreward for once Nigerians in their father's land are living like aliens it ought not be.
We need visionaries,dedicated and inspiring leaders who has the interest of nigerians at heart.
Those who understands what the word"Democracy" really mean.

now now now

OP, this was in the build-up to 2011 presidential election.

buahri better stop deceiving ursef
even if u become president u cant even tried it
u think u can fool every all Nigerian with ur am holy attitude
its all to canvass for our votes we understand

Indeed Buhari is very cluessless.

Who are his image-makers, they should restrict from granting every interview from now henceforth.


Cogito ergo sum

Wisdom is a function of Humility and indeed the principal thing

Firefire:
BUHARI, If your mouth turns into a knife, it will cut off your lips.

This man Buhari lacks intellectual capacity. He is a mental and religious bigot with porous mouth. When a man talks without the use of his brain, even a child can decipher it.

Imagine, he has not even won and he is feeling himself. This is tantamount to pride and self conceit.

Meaning if he wins, let the people be subdued or they run away..

macpetrus:
Hmmmm.. I don't even knw what to write or say?... If buhari is talking like this then our nation is shaking. Buhari should united nigeria bt is word make me think otherwise...

If u pick GEJ ahead of him as a credible president, then ur reasoning should be questioned

Bro, your English is making man shake and think otherwise too..

100Cents:



Bro, your English is making man shake and think otherwise too..

Oshey....Brighter Grammar

nah that same heavy thunder wey finish abacha go blast your yarnsh for that royal seat! aboki sadist.

godsamist:
I am in support of whosoever will move this country foreward for once Nigerians in their father's land are living like aliens it ought not be.
We need visionaries,dedicated and inspiring leaders who has the interest of nigerians at heart.
Those who understands what the word"Democracy" really mean.

4k democracy!democracy is the root of all these evil!freedom to do Sh!t for the people and by the people while the same people become 4ktup!

This man has started making the wrong statements. He should wait till he occupies the seat that is if he does.

So bros what are you sugguesting?
Ofcourse we are in the era of democracy,other countries aside nigeria are making meaningful progress from democracy are they not human beings?
Ok want us back into military?
Naija people i hail!

Mr Buhari stop giving ur wayward followers in Naija and Nland hope cos yu will never win an election in Naija.
so dont bother no one wants to flee.

GEJ for life.

How would you tackle the issue of corruption?

Buhari One of the things that the we will do is to strengthen the institutions.
We already have the police. We have said that security, prosperity will bring
stability. We have been harping on these three things before.

Looking at the economy today, what are those things you would point at that are fundamental to making the economy prosperous?

Buhari I am not an economist

Buhari is thicker than an Iroko tree, he has no real plans for Nigeria. This man just wants power for power sake.

Can you imagine ? The coup plotter is still using the word 'Take over'. He still believes in taking power over. Ewwoooo. Mr. Kwuorropshien, its 'if I am elected`.

And this is why GMB and the APC will lose. Till date, I'm yet to see or read their manifesto and plans for Nigeria. All I here are attacks on GEJ while the target's quietly moving the nation forward. The previous losses of the APC is yet to dawn on them. I guess they're still in denial. But 2015 election will surely wake them up from their pipe dream.

We need change. Its time we try somebody else at the helm, it wouldn't kill Us to try....the current leadership is just not doing enough.

Only Buhari cn get Nigeria out of this downward spiral movement of insecurity,uncertainty and gross indiscipline-Jonathan is just doing father christmas with our National wealth...buying up everyone with our collective wealth and some dummies still sleeping with no electricity,and using noise making machines to power their source are still supporting him,a president tht can not face our enemies.

Pls Nairalanders Ebele Jonathan is tired,let's allow him go rest,Naija is too big for him.

Be a patriot,save your children's future-vote Buhari as President.

GMB: Loved by the Upright, Hated by the Corrupt.

One thing that transpires is this : This man will not be a western stooge like Mr. Goodluck.

President-elect Buhari:
Those Who Want To Flee When I Take Over Are Free To Run’ Muhammed Buhari

^^ My nigga Main man