And do you think Buhari has a business being in the race now that there is so much noise about generational change of leadership?

I have not been an apostle of generational change. Rather, I prefer generational integration. That is, integration of the best from the young and from the old so that we can move the nation forward. I am a Yoruba person and there is a saying among the Yoruba that it is the wisdom of the elders combined with the knowledge of the young that was used to create Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba. And I think we need to be careful in this country about change based on age. In the last twelve years, we have had quite a number of young men who came to power as ministers or governors and who are today in chains both within and outside the country because of their corrupt involvement. Many of them have soiled their hands. When you place such men side by side with Gen. Buhari, you will see a great disparity in terms of transparency and honesty. This is a man who had been a governor of North Eastern State, Petroleum Minister, Chairman, NNPC, PTF and above all Head of State. And yet, today, he does not have a filling station in his name, much less oil blocs, refinery and other investments in the oil sector.

It was under him that Warri and Kaduna refineries were built and over 3, 000 kilometres of pipelines were laid. You know those who have held governorship positions in the last twelve years who own refineries abroad. Buhari, as PTF chairman, did not draw a single salary because he believed it would be immoral for him to be paid pension and salaries at the same time. When the board of the PFT sat and decided to buy cars for its officials, Buhari insisted that they should buy Peugeot 504 for everybody. When the cars came, the secretary of the body, Chief Ayotayo Apata, bought two 505, one for himself and one for Gen Buhari. And Gen Buhari said to him, ‘but we agreed on 504. He said, ‘the supplier just decided to upgrade the two of us at no cost to the PTF. Buhari said, ‘no, what is on the minute is 504, take it back to him and bring 504 for me. Tayo Apata ended up using the 505, while Buhari was using 504 as the chairman. He is a man who has lived a life of honesty and integrity. He has contested election in this country twice and defeated them but the released results said he came second. Yet, they couldn’t bring out any corrupt allegation against him. If he had soiled his hands, they would have used the EFCC against him as they did against those who were opposed to them or defected from their party. It means that the man is clean. What is killing Nigeria today is corruption. We have made more money in this present dispensation than any other time in the life of this country. But the lives of the people have become worse.

In 1999, the poverty index was 45 percent. In spite of the huge revenue that has accrued to the government, today, the poverty level is 75 per cent. In 1999, 64 percent of our pupils were passing WAEC exams, after twelve years of PDP in power, 98 per cent of them failed WAEC and NECO exams. This has never come up for discussion for one day in the National Assembly. Every other index is going from bad to worse. The Global Financial Integrity recently came out with a report that says that between 2007 and 2008, 15 billion dollars left the shore of Nigeria every year on illegal transfer. The urgency of the moment is that we need a remedy of the presence that Buhari represents. We need Buhari at this time. We need a man who brings the remedy of presence in such a way that cat surfaces and rats find their ways. The empire of thieves in Nigeria must be disbanded. Buhari, today, is the man who has the moral status with unblemished record and impeccable integrity who can sit at the treasury gate and thieves will know that the time is up. When Obasanjo came into power and he was trying to smear the image of Buhari, it was former Governor

Obong Attah who got up and said, "Which PTF are you talking about? I was a consultant to the PTF and up till today, there is no government agency in Nigeria that has done more diligence than the PTF. Every contactor with PTF that had a job of between N1 million to N10 million had to get a guarantee from Insurance company that if it failed to perform, the money would be repaid. Anybody taking a contract above N10 million had to provide a guarantee from a bank which would pay back the money in case the contract was not properly done. We need such a man of integrity today to move the nation forward. And luckily, he has a running mate who is also transparent. By the time we solve the problem of corruption, we can now move to good governance. Then, all the money that goes into individual’s pocket can now be channelled to other problems.



For more on the interview, visit http://nationalmirroronline.net/interviews/8609.html

Yet some folks decide to remain blind to the truth. . . . . . .

ahidjo:

In 1999, the poverty index was 45 percent. In spite of the huge revenue that has accrued to the government, today, the poverty level is 75 per cent. In 1999, 64 percent of our pupils were passing WAEC exams, after twelve years of PDP in power, 98 per cent of them failed WAEC and NECO exams. This has never come up for discussion for one day in the National Assembly. Every other index is going from bad to worse.

This doesn't sound correct. I understand his overall point. . . but I don't think we should distort the progress naija has made since 99.

This is incredible, even if Buhari looses this election I'll continue supporting him until evidence becomes over-whelming just like what is about to happen in delta state

bear

What does not sound correct, the WAEC Stuff?

The poverty stuff. There is no way Nigeria is poorer today than it was in 1999. 90s were probably rock bottom in Nigerian history.

Genrational change that brought Dimeji Bankole a man in our genration whose sticky fingers is worse than fingers with glue. Orji Kalu is younger than Ribadu , Saminu Turaki is younger than Ribadu , Fani kayode was young , all these young men´s hand were soiled in corruption.

hercules07:

bear

What does not sound correct, the WAEC Stuff?

Please post your facts

ekt_bear:

The poverty stuff. There is no way Nigeria is poorer today than it was in 1999. 90s were probably rock bottom in Nigerian history.

post your facts

Lagosboy:

Genrational change that brought Dimeji Bankole a man in our genration whose sticky fingers is worse than fingers with glue. Orji Kalu is younger than Ribadu , Saminu Turaki is younger than Ribadu , Fani kayode was young , all these young men´s hand were soiled in corruption.

What are you trying to say?

@blink182:

This table here: http://i54.tinypic.com/20ztf7s.png
(from http://www.cenbank.org/OUT/SPEECHES/2007/GOVADD10-1-07.PDF)

and this graph here: http://i54.tinypic.com/2zjch2w.png
(from http://www.cenbank.org/OUT/SPEECHES/2007/GOVADD14-5-07.PDF)

Anyway, I don't think the country is worse now than it was in the 90s. A better way to sell a Buhari candidacy is to say that reducing corruption would accelerate growth and progress. . . rather than claiming the country has regressed.

As per WAEC, the passing rate was 2% last year as confirmed by the examining board.

The man Buhari

blink182:

Please post your factspost your facts
What are you trying to say?

I am simply saying age of our leaders is not exactly the problem but the integrity of of our leaders. We have had young but terribly corrupt leaders who have failed the youths