The candidate of the All Progressives
Congress in the 2015 presidential election, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,
has said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party
have run out of ideas.
He also noted that the administration had
equally run out of excuses for its inability to provide quality
leadership for Nigerians.
Buhari said this in a New Year message to Nigerians on Wednesday.
He noted that announcements made by the
Presidency and its agencies over the last one month, had
dampened the
morale of many Nigerians.
According to him, President Jonathan and
the ruling party have devalued the Naira which means that the price of
goods and services will rise thus increasing the burden of ordinary
Nigerians.
In the statement signed on his behalf by
the Director, Communications of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr.
Dele Alake, Buhari said by Presidency’s own admission, he was promising
Nigerians a tougher 2015.
Buhari was quoted as saying, “Our opponents have not only run out of ideas, they have run out of excuses for failure.
He said, “Indeed, the Presidency has
declared a regime of austerity that will be executed in 2015. To quote
the press reports, the President himself has declared that year 2015
shall be “tough” on our people.
“Against this season of despair foisted
on our people, I bring to you, a New Year Message of hope and optimism. I
share the anxiety of the middle class and the poor who have borne the
brunt of the policies of this government for so long with increasing
burden.
“I share the fear of the unemployed whose
hopes for new jobs in the New Year is being dashed because companies
will cut jobs to escape spiral inflation. I share the concerns of the
manufacturers whose import-dominated production will be challenged by
the austerity measures.”
Buhari urged leaders to eschew the
cynical habit of wishing Nigerians a happy New Year when their actions
were calculated to undermine their happiness.
He pointed out that it was impossible for
the vast majority of Nigerians to enjoy happiness given the scale of
corruption, impunity and indiscipline that currently incapacitated the
Nigerian state from fulfilling its obligations to the Nigerian people.
He said the country desperately needed a disciplined and visionary leadership that had the capacity to fight corruption.
“It is only some Nigerians who have
access to the corridors of power and benefit from the monumental graft
that characterises governance in the country today that can enjoy their
perverse and ultimately futile form of happiness,” Buhari said.
Buhari called on Nigerians to vote out
the Peoples Democratic Party, promising that his administration would
ensure “cheaper electricity, food security, accelerated power supply,
integrated transport network, free education, affordable health care
service and effective security of life and property.”
According to him, Nigerians cannot enjoy
the dividends of democracy owing to corruption, impunity and
indiscipline that currently incapacitate the country.
He added, “Nigerians must be the sole
object and focus of government. Man must be the pivot around which
governance revolves. The more the potential of citizens are maximised
within any nation, the higher will be the prospects of that nation for
attaining greatness. The first great task facing Nigeria today,
therefore, is to put in place a government that can guarantee the safety
and security of Nigerians throughout the length and breadth of our
country. This is because Nigerians must first of all be alive, safe and
free from fear before they can exercise and utilise their talents for
the benefit of their nation.
“I declare, that, collectively, we can
bring an end to this season of despair; we can bring an end to this
avoidable fear; we can bring an end to this needless anxiety. On
February 14, 2014, the Almighty offers us a historic opportunity to
chart a new course out of the tragedy that we have found ourselves;
History offers us a chance to correct the errors of the past. Great
Nigerian people! This is our chance!
“…My message to you is to use your voter
card on February 14, 2015 to liberate our country by voting for a real
happy new year for yourselves.
“This is the type of leadership I offer
and for which I humbly seek the mandate of Nigerians at the polls this
New Year. I am confident that great days are ahead of Nigerians. I
therefore enjoin us all to keep hope alive.
The glory and pride of
Nigeria will be restored both internally and externally this New Year.
Renew your faith that, for Nigeria, the best is on the way and by the
grace of the Almighty, I shall meet you there. Happy New Year!”
