Buhari Reassures Nigerians That APC Will Not Fail Them

From left: APC Governorship Candidate Taraba State, Sen. Aisha Alhassan; President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari; APC Chairman Taraba State, Alh. Hassan Jika- Ardo; and Chief Whip. House of representative Mr. Ishaka Bawa
From left: APC Governorship Candidate Taraba State, Sen. Aisha Alhassan; President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari; APC Chairman Taraba State, Alh. Hassan Jika- Ardo; and Chief Whip. House of representative Mr. Ishaka Bawa

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has reassured Nigerians that the incoming government of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will not fail them.

Buhari gave the reassurance, yesterday, when he hosted a delegation from Taraba State led by the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Senator Aisha Alhassan, who told Buhari that she was robbed of victory at the last gubernatorial election in the state.

He told Alhassan, who was very close to becoming the first female governor in Nigeria before she eventually lost, not to give up.

“It is a battle well fought and I am very pleased that you have taken the honourable way out. According to the Nigerian constitution, you may go to court. I was there three times and ended up in the Supreme Court.

“Sometimes, people wonder why I tried so hard. I tried so hard because it is a system I believe in. I believe that multi party democratic system is the best form of governance with a big caveat that election must be free and fair.

“Really, this is why I am in it. I was in APP, I joined partisan politics in April 2002 and on that date, at my ward, those who knew me, and have been following my career antecedent in the military, would not believe it that I will participate in partisan politics and I will not also believe it. But I found myself in it and I never turned back.

“Within one year, APP gave me the ticket. There were governors, senators and much older people than me, but all the same, I got the ticket. I lost, I was in court for 30 months. In 2007, we tried to have a limited merger and became ANPP and again, I participated and was told I lost.

“I went to court for 20 months up to the Supreme Court and I felt that my party was not fair to me. While I was in court, the leadership of the party proceeded and took two marginal ministries in late Yar’Adua’s cabinet and an Adviser. For that disgraceful behaviour by the party leadership, I left the party and we floated the CPC.

“Again, I attempted in 2011 and lost and again and I was in court for about eight months. I contested now for the fourth time under APC having successfully gone through with the merger of the three legacy parties.

“So, Aisha, don’t give up. You are younger and this is your first attempt. I contested three times and this is my fourth attempt. I hope that you succeed in court. I am impressed by the quality of Taraba people you brought here,” Buhari said.