Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said President Goodluck Jonathan cannot win in a free and fair election in 2015 presidential poll.
The Congress for Progressive Change candidate for the 2011 presidential election said Jonathan’s adoption by some leaders of the South-South should not be taken seriously.
Buhari spoke in his Kaduna residence when he received the party’s governorship candidate for the October 20 election in Ondo State, Mr. Soji Ehinlanwo.
Ehinlanwo was accompanied to Buhari’s home by the CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, and other party officials.
The former head of state said, “I don’t take the decision of South-south leaders seriously. The South-South people said it is Jonathan or nothing; I know they are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, let them vote for him.
“In a free and fair election, let us see if they can give him the ticket against other geo-political zones. Let them give him the primary ticket first. Let them vote for him when 2015 comes and let us see if he would win.”
He urged the elite to participate in the 2015 election to ensure that election was free and fair.
He added, “It is also up to the elite to participate and ensure that elections are free and fair. It is not necessary for them to be card-carrying members of political parties. They know how to participate; they should not sit and look. They can go to their constituencies to identify and enlighten their people on the need to entrench free and fair election to stabilise the country.”
Buhari said it was only in Nigeria that people who worked for 10 to 35 years retire and die queuing to collect their entitlements.
He also lamented the non-prosecution of those indicted in the pension, subsidy and other fraud, saying “this can only happen in Nigeria”.
The CPC chief added, “Why are those officials not prosecuted to retrieve the stolen money? It is only in Nigeria that fraud of this magnitude takes place and this incompetent government is doing nothing about it.”
