Former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, offered himself to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the 2015 presidential election on the ticket of his party.
Buhari made this offer shortly after the APC Support Group identified him as the man who should be allowed to fly the party’s flag on account of his “veracious personality, capacity for mass mobilisation, influence and status as an African political icon”.
The group had urged leaders of the party such as Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, John Odigie Oyegun and other stakeholders to ensure that Buhari is fielded, as “this is the greatest service they could do to Nigeria at this critical time”.
Responding after the endorsement, Buhari said he was happy to offer himself to be president. He implored his supporters to continue backing him.
However, he said that if he did not nick the party’s presidential ticket, his supporters should not shy away from backing whoever wins it.
“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”, Buhari said.
“I hope I can count on your continuing support and sacrifice. 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”.
He reminded his loyalists that APC is a party with several qualified people for each available position, 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”, he added.
“But in the event that it happens to be one of the other aspirants 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.
“My supporters must not engage in any 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”.