Its often said, his reputation precedes him! Even,former President OBJ, has acknowledged the Pedigree of General (Rtd) Muhammadu Buhari. But it begs the question, Can’t the North/Party Produce another credible Candidate? One with unquestionable character like that of the Gen? Senator Nazir in this interview tells why General (Rtd) Muhammadu Buhari is the Leader Nigeria needs!
Source: Daily Trust
Why Buhari May Contest in 2015 Presidency – Senator Nazif
Interview By Muideen Olaniyi,
Senator Sulaiman Mohammed Nazif represented Bauchi North Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011. In this chat with journalists in Abuja, the former gubernatorial candidate and the current Chairman, Communications and Contact Sub-Committee of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) spoke on the merger of four political parties, the Senate experience, among other national issues. Excerpts:
What is the function of your contact committee and what do you want to achieve?
One of the most important functions is to ensure that we contact, mobilise and communicate to our members, information on the essentials of the plan by of our great party to go into the merger with both strength of numbers and character. And within the six geo-political zones, a lot has been achieved so far. We are going round the six geopolitical zones of this great nation within two weeks. We have covered the North West, North East as well as the North Central zones. This week, we will be in the South West and so on and so forth. We are also informing them of our convention which is coming up in May 11.
We are also informing them the need for this merger and for them to endorse this position of our party. Our leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, is also reaching out to the youths, students, community leaders, religious leaders and our excos. We also want to identify various membership strata nationwide through the best method to effectively reach and mobilize them.
What we have seen during our contacts is that most agreed that this merger is the only way out for Nigerians to achieve their desired goals of stopping the ruling party permanently. And that is why General Buhari and the leadership of the CPC endorsed a committee of 122 or so headed by Senator Solomon Ewuga, who has continuously worked tirelessly to ensure that our contact and mobilisation job is made easy and the goal of reaching out to our people is achieved.
Is this All Progressives Congress (APC) name going to scale-through INEC, despite the controversy over it?
Well, we have a merger committee with representatives from the political parties that make up the APC. The committee is best suited to answer this question. But I can assure you that, as a member of the CPC and as a Nigerian who is progressive and who thinks that the only solution to our numerous problems is a people conscious party-a party that will put the country in its rightful position amongst the comity of nations, only APC can do this. It is therefore important that the APC becomes a reality. Everyone knows that the ruling party will not fold its hands and watch us. As you know, the PDP is a sinking ship and they are down on their knees. So, since their ship is sinking, they would do everything necessary to create mischief and that is what is happening. But I assure you that APC is a reality and we will have our way, which is to make Nigeria a better place while they will have their minority say.
What would happen to this APC merger now that General Buhari is reconsidering his ambition to re-contest the office of the president in 2015?
Nigeria requires a leader with experience, a leader that has been tested, a leader that can command the respect of the nation, a leader that would provide opportunity for the younger generation to strive. Nigeria requires a leader that will make things work, that will be able to identify the required various capacities that will help in fixing the nation. No room for inexperience and no room for another experiment. And I believe the progressive elders of the APC are well positioned to do just that. We have leaders that have provided the platform for the younger generation to give their best. General Buhari has done more than that at various times. Times have changed and we require a leader that has earned the desired respect. He has given opportunities for Nigerian professionals to contribute their quota towards nation building during the PTF. He has given opportunities for the hopeless to know that with good leadership, there is hope for all in this nation. He built a platform that gives thousands of Nigerians hope.
I believe with General Buhari as the leader of this nation, the National Assembly will achieve its best because he will certainly accept the independence of the Assembly. He will not intervene in the affairs of the National Assembly or other institutions.
Every institution will work. The local governments will function properly. The states will be at their best and the executive arm of government will also function better. He is a man that is not looking for money. He has held various positions and has enviable records. He is one of the most disciplined Nigerians. Even his political enemies can attest to that. He should be given the opportunity to fix the remains so that we can rebuild this nation. We are getting off the track every day. So, we need someone who can bring back the past glory of this great nation.
But why General Buhari all the time? Is there no alternative?
You will agree with me that General Buhari is the link between the common man and the top. He is the only link because the common man knows none apart from General Buhari. The common man is more comfortable with him. The younger generation feels that he can provide a lot of opportunities for them in times like these. Every time demands a leader or leaders as the case may be and in times like now, General Buhari is the best thing that should happen to this nation. He is the solution we need for the challenges we have in this country. Buhari is the only Nigerian alive that has scored more than 12 million votes uninfluenced, unprotected with just goodwill. Even after cutting all they could cut, they still recognised above 12 million votes. Buhari’s influence has grown to the extent that just joining your poster with him can guarantee you tremendous victory.
He is a progressive leader who will allow things to work. His interest, as everyone knows, is the progress of the common man and the nation. All he has ever wanted is for Nigeria to be a better place and for the leaders to give opportunities for Nigerians to actualise their dreams. He visits the local man. He is free with them and they are at home with him. He is passionate about anything that will make Nigeria work.
As a former legislator, how do you see this idea of governors now turning the Senate to be their last bus stop?
Thank you for asking this question that concerns my constituency-the National Assembly. As you are aware, I was a member of the House of Representatives as well as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have cognate legislative experience. So, that makes me a ranking Senator. And for the governors, they need a bus station to rest before their final ‘bus stop’. An executive governor of a State for eight years will come into the National Assembly today without legislative experience. That will make him a junior senator. The legislature is about a career and commitment to the nation. The National Assembly is about rules and procedures and is about being first among equals. The Senate is a place where experience matters. It is the gathering of people of integrity that have excelled in various capacities. The nation needs Senators that will sit down and make laws for the betterment of this country, especially at this critical time in our nation’s history. The Senate is not a resting place or a safe haven. I strongly feel that the first bus stop after eight years as governor in office should be embassies as ambassadors. This is where their executive experiences can come to bear. The ambassadorial appointments will suite them better having exhausted eight years of intensive work. Ambassadorial appointments will be best for them to re-organise themselves better. This will allow things to flow without displacing senators who have acquired experience over time and have taken the legislature as their career.
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