BY Fredrick Nwabufo
Three-time presidential aspirant and former military president, Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buhari was widely expected to officially reveal his interest on October 8, but speaking at a media briefing organised by the APC Support group, on Tuesday, he expressed interest in running for the office for a fourth consecutive time.
Although he told his supporters that he would make a formal announcement soon, he urged them not to relent in giving their support to the party.
“I intend to offer myself for the position of the president of the republic on the platform of our great party. I intend to make a formal announcement soon, and I hope I can count on your continuing support and sacrifice,” he said.
“However, I would like to point out to you that, to be more meaningful, your support must extend beyond my person and always be available to the party and all those that the party puts forward, because it is the party that is the platform.”
Further exhorting his supporters, he said: “You must at all times remember that the APC is a party with several qualified people for all the positions that will be contested, including that of the president. It is the primaries that will determine who eventually represents the party in which capacity. If I get the party nomination, I expect you will redouble your effort and commitment until we clinch the presidency.
“But in the event that it happens to be one of the other aspirant who wins, I will expect you, as good party men, to extend to him your total support. We are a united party, and united we shall remain because our strength lies in our unity.”
Buhari also warned his supporters who converged under the auspices of “Buhari Support Group” to desist from insulting any leader of the APC and other aspirants.
“My supporters must not engage in any kind of behaviour or conduct that will tarnish the image of any leader or promote division and rancour within the ranks of the party. Whoever does that should know he or she is working for the enemy,” he added.
“I intend to offer myself for the position of president of the republic on the platform of our great party.”
Buhari joins former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who declared his interest on September 24, as the two APC members to have publicly confirmed their desire to contest next year’s presidential election.
Other candidates such as governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwakwanso; former governor of Kwara state, Bukola Saraki; speaker of the federal house of representatives, Aminu Tambuwal are expected to soon emerge and go head-to-head in a primary scheduled for October
But waiting on the other side is President Goodluck Jonathan, who has been named the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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