PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the February 14 election, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said that campaigns should focus on national issues and not on his state of health and dead Nigerian leaders.

Buhari’s advice came a day after some members of the Peoples Democratic Party raised doubts about his health status and after an advert by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose warned Nigerians against voting for a 72-year-old man.

In the said advert, Fayose claimed that since three ex-leaders from the North-West had died in office, it would not be wise for Nigerians to vote for Buhari “because we are tired of state burials.”


Buhari, in a message on his official Twitter handle said, “How can his (President Goodluck Jonathan) campaign be talking about ex-dead leaders, jogging around the stadium and outright lies about health?”

Also, the Buhari Support Group Centre on Monday condemned what it described as an orchestrated campaign of calumny and character assassination directed at the APC candidate.

It specifically expressed displeasure with the Fayose’s advert, saying it was not decent.

“In line with the Abuja Accord signed by Gen. Buhari and President Jonathan, the advert in question is to say the least, in bad taste.

“Is it to say that our opponents have a death wish for our candidate? Political campaign should stick to issues and be decent,” the BSGC Director of Publicity, Chidia Maduekwe, said in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Monday.

The Buhari Support Organisation, meanwhile, said it had started a sensitisation campaign to ensure full compliance with the no-violence accord signed by presidential candidates in the February 2015 general elections.

Several groups, under the aegis of BSO, urged politicians to adhere strictly to the letter and intent of the accord.

State coordinators of the various groups said this at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Addressing state coordinators of the groups, in Abuja, on Monday, the Chief of Staff to Buhari, Col. Hameed Ali (retd.) said Nigerians had had enough of election related violence since 1956.

He said all hands must be on deck to stop reoccurrence.

“We must change the way the world sees us and this 2015 election offers the rare opportunity to showcase our desired new direction,” Ali said.

Also, a former acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said the advert by Fayose was against the non-violence accord signed by all presidential candidates.

In a statement on Monday, Baraje, a chieftain of the APC, said the Fayose advert allegedly wished for the death of Buhari, who was military head of state between 1984 and 1985.

[b]Baraje, a chieftain of the APC said that the advert credited to Fayose was capable of causing anarchy in the country.

He said, “One would have expected that at the second coming of Fayose as governor he would be more careful and have outgrown his alleged carelessness and irresponsible motor park attitude which is not expected of a governor.

“It is regrettable that barely a week after all political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders met to agree on conducting an issues-based and non-violent campaign, a senior member of PDP, who is meant to be the leader of an entire state, could stoop so low to wish death on anyone, not to talk of a presidential candidate.

“The failure of President Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP to distance itself from such comments and call Mr. Fayose to order is a direct indication that they are in support of Mr. Fayose making a mockery of the dead and trying to play God as only Allah is the one that knows the time of the passing of any individual.”[/b]

Meanwhile, Buhari, in continuation of his campaign on Monday, told the electorate to defend their votes in the February elections and give no room for any manipulation.

“Do not leave the polling units until the result is declared,” Buhari, who spoke in Minna, Niger State, said.

According to him, anything that may jeopardise the result of the election should not be allowed to take place.

“Where ever you are, defend your votes during the February elections,” he stressed.

The APC presidential candidate also assured the people of the state that he would provide enough electricity to enable businessmen and women to carry out their businesses in a well- dignified manner.

He said if voted he would improve the agricultural sector in Niger State, given the status of the state as one of the food baskets of the nation.

Speaking at the rally, APC National Leader and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, said President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration had been characterised by lies, saying that was why the country could not move forward.

“Six years ago, he promised us that he we will step down and will not re-contest, but today the reverse is the case, putting the country into economic mess,” Tinubu said.

He urged the electorate to get their voter cards ready for the elections, saying the cards would bring development to the nation.

At the rally were chieftains of the APC nationwide, including the APC presidential running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo; Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; and a former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki.

CaptainAmerica1:
Well said Buhari. Let the dead rest in peace. Doesn't Fayose know that these people still have family alive and it's an insult to them? Anyway, what goes around comes around.

Nuff said!

crownprince102:
All sane Nigerians should have realised now who really are the "motor park tout". Before typing trash here:
1. Consider yourself to be a family member of Yaradua, Abacha or Muhammed, how will you fell seeing this?
2. Will you ever wish for someone at Fayose's age do this to you in future when you are in your 70s.
3. Can you be proud of your father if your dad happens to be involved in this reckless act.
4. Put yourself in Buhari's shoe, what would you have done?
5. Consider yourself to be a northerner, will you be happy with this even if you are a supporter GEJ.
6. Is this advisable in a country of ethnic and tribal differences? can't it lead to anarchy?
I won't still be dissapointed if some pple come here and type nonsense because Abacha's son is still supporting GEJ despite this outrageous assault on the entire abacha family. I 'm a yoruba boy but Fayose is a disgrace to the yoruba nation.

CaptainAmerica1:
Well said Buhari. Let the dead rest in peace. Doesn't Fayose know that these people still have family alive and it's an insult to them? Anyway, what goes around comes around.

Nuff said!

obiZEAL:
Tell them...

otipoju:
Fayosw na big time mumuni.. Its a shame that he is from my state.

The aim of his advert was to dissuade Nigerians from voting Buhari. His intention is valid and he has a right to employ any propaganda to actualise his objective.APC has made heavy use of propaganda to cripple PFP.
Sadly he choose the wrong weapon which can only backfire on him and his party. I'll proceed to analyse the effect of his advert.

1. The northerners will be aggrieved that he disrespected the dead especially their heroes in Muritala who was aasasinated and Yaraudua who fell I'll like anybody could. Such a slight will not go unavenged at the pooling booths.

2. If it is indeed true that Buhari is terminally I'll, the Yoruba will gladly vote Buhari knowing that Osinbanjo will takeover the same way Jonathan did after Yaradua f passed on to the great beyond.

3. If it is indeed true that Buhari is terminally I'll, Christians all over the country will vote Buhari knowing well that a Christian Pastor will become President.

4. People who have not made up their minds which party to vote for but have lost loved ones will find this advert very distasteful and will swing their votes to Buhari out of sympathy.

5. People who currently suffer from one ailment or the other will feel slighted and will vote for Buhari out of a sense of communion.

All in all Fayose goofed big time.He did not think this through at all based on his fear of being impeached in an APC dominated Ekiti Parliament if the pendulum swings...it's not out of a love for Jonathan or Nigerians

Moral if the story " do not cut off your head to spite your nose"

fuckerholic:

Apc sympathizer..ezigbo mmadu..eti owo !

kingstylo01:
Honestly speaking, though i'm in support of GEJ's re-election, i condem this advert. It's obviously stating that if Buhari should win he's gonna die in office.
However, we all know that a man of 73yrs old will likely have health issues, and I.M.O should retire from holding any public office and leave the the younger generation to rule.
Come to think of it, old age is a blessing but comes with a lot of natural Challenges and difficulties such as memory loss and other factors.
If i were in Buhari's shoes, i would have retired from active politics since age 65.
but no, this old soldier wants to be president by all means! SMH

BlackTechnology:
Dear Buhari
Fayose loves you that's why he is warning you of the plot to ride on your death to power
He is also trying to protect his people because he knows that if you die in power, your brothers will seize power and relegate his people who won't be able to call on SS SE and MB for help

CaptainAmerica1:


A reasonable comment from a PDP member unlike the dunce below me.



Fayose should be banished from the Yoruba kingdom. We're ashamed of the omo ale.

BlackTechnology:

Pray Buhari don't win and die in power)

You guys suffering in the hands of the far North will be nothing comparable to what you guys suffered before and after 1993 June 12