Buhari Says Military May Be Used To Rig Presidential, Governorship Elections

General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) has called on leaders and elders of the party
to keep their eyes on the ball and work as they have never done before,
despite the six-week postponement of the elections. General Buhari made
the call during an address to party leaders and elders at the Yar’Adua
Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.

“The days and weeks ahead will be tough,” General Buhari said. “Our
resolve will be tested and all kinds of evil tricks will be on display. But
do not despair. The goal is in sight. Change is coming. The people of
Nigeria will prevail. God has destined Nigeria to be a great country. We
shall overcome and Change shall be achieved.”

The presidential candidate described as “worrisome”, the recent revelations
by Capt. Sagir Koli about how he, a serving officer at that time, was
deployed, with other serving officers, some more senior in rank, to work
with key politicians of the PDP to rig the Ekiti elections.

“Up till now, there has been no official denial of this most unfortunate
event. It makes me wonder, in the circumstances that led to shifting of the
date of the general elections, whether the security services are even now
being prepared to play similar roles in the March 28th and April 11th
elections.”

General Buhari emphasised that Nigeria’s security services have serious
constitutional responsibilities to the people of the nation, and so their
importance to the wellbeing of the country cannot be under estimated.

“It is therefore imperative that their leaders must not drag these
invaluable institutions into the realm of partisan politics,” he said.

The APC presidential candidate also commended some of the party leaders in
attendance, who lost in the various primaries to choose candidates for the
party during the elections and rather than being disappointed, have thrown
their energies and resources into the campaign, not minding their personal
losses.

“There are others who have been made mind boggling offers by our opponents
in a bid to break our ranks and curtail our momentum in the march to change
Nigeria for good, yet you have chosen to be on the side of a cause that is
just,” he said.

General Buhari urged the party leaders and faithful not to rest thinking
that all is won.

“Six weeks is a long time and we do not know the plans of the other side
but with our strong resolve we will prevail. Therefore let us keep our eyes
on the ball,” he said.

He added: “The important issue today is that we must use the next six weeks
that have been imposed on us to re-charge and re-focus on our goal. We
should aim to achieve a victory that will be beyond dispute and proceed to
form the next government and start work on the task of rebuilding our
beloved country.”