Buhari: On challenges of 2007 elections
From MU’AWIYYA IDRIS BALA,Katsina
ANPP Presidential flag bearer General Muhammadu Buhari, recently visited his home town Daura, after ANPP convention. He was received by a mammoth crowd and a rally was held in support of his ambition.
After the rally General Buhari spoke with newsmen. Our correspondent Mu‘awuya Bala Idris was there. Below is the full text of the interview:
Daily Triumph: We want to hear your views on having two presidential aspirants from Katsina state.
Buhari: You have almost answered the question we are from different political parties, we just again happened to be from Katsina state.
Daily Triumph: : Are you comfortable with the development?
Buhari: I am very comfortable.
Daily Triumph:: The PDP government here is claiming to be in charge of government machineries. So Sir, what are your chances?
Buhari: It is true the state government is a PDP government, but this is a national issue, there are still 35 states and Abuja to contend with?
Daily Triumph: After your success at the primaries you assured Nigerians that, the petroleum sector would be sanitized, if elected. We want you to elaborate on that?
Buhari: Well, if you could recall at some stages, as far back as October 2001, this government was complaining that the four refineries we have, two in Port-Harcourt, one in Warri and one in Kaduna. This government alleged that, some previous governments refused to maintain these refineries so that, they could give their contracts to bring the products. Now for seven years, this government has failed to put these four refineries on full stream, so that we don’t have to import the products. The capacity of these four refineries put together is more than Nigeria’s daily request, which is about 430,000.00 barrels a day.
Daily Triumph: Sir, how do you see the Atiku-Obasanjo feud and the 2003 election.
Buhari: Well this matter is now constitutional and I have seen lawyers making comments about it. But just like third term, this issue has to be dealt with by the National Assembly. It is the National Assembly that would decide,if the vice-president can be impeached. But this matter is squarely on the shoulders of the National Assembly.
Daily Triumph: What advice do you have for the National Assembly on these issue?
Buhari: Like the third term, the National Assembly has no option but to be constitutional.
Daily Triumph: Sir, what do you except foreign observers to do in the 2007 election monitoring?
Buhari: You know what happened in 2003. The National Republican Institute of the United States, the European observer team, the catholic mission deployed over 30,000 observers and if you could recall, they complained that, in 13-15 states, there were no elections. So this time around alot of us, who have great stake in free and fair election have appealed to Europe and American to make sure they fully participate in the exercise.
We even appealed to the UN. We have been making contracts and asking the UN to patronize in next year’s election because I don’t think Nigerians would tolerate what happened in 2003.
Daily Triumph: Sir, would you please clear the air on the choice of your running mate?
Buhari: I will like you to help us and help Nigerians that, anybody who feels that he can be a political commentator to please read the Nigerian constitution and the Electoral Act of 2006 and to read the constitution of the party, he wants to comment on. By the constitution of our party and by Electoral Act and by what INEC said by 22nd of December 2005, we have to submit the complete forms of presidential candidates and their running mates from the same party. So all these speculations by you that, the Senate President is being contacted is not true, we know it has to be an ANPP affair. And the man as the President of the Senate, belongings to the PDP how can he be involved.