President Muhammadu Buhari has claimed that he will ensure that the country experiences free and fair elections come 2019
The President was speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in front of delegates from at the Presidential Villa in Abuja
He promised that he would not do what was done to him claiming that in 2015 impediments were put in his way to ensure that he would not win
“I am glad you are here to assess our pre-election preparations. It reminds me of the visit by the then Secretary of State, John Kerry, before the 2015 polls. We appreciate the concern of America for stability in developing countries.” he stated
“Having run for President three times, ending up at the Supreme Court all three times, before God and technology made a way for me the fourth time, I know what it is to be cheated at the polls.
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“What they used to do was just to award votes and tell anyone who was dissatisfied to go to court. But we won’t do that. I am prepared to give the opposition the opportunities I was not given in the past.”
Buhari stated that his government is still committed to fighting corruption and insurgency in the country
“We have done fairly well in the areas we focussed on. We know how many local government areas in the North-East were under Boko Haram occupation before we came. That does not happen again, save for cowardly attacks, using young girls as suicide bombers.
“Other areas of security challenge like farmers/herdsmen clashes are receiving attention, and will be sorted out as much as possible.”
Buhari and explained his reasoning for not signing the electoral act (amendment) Bill stating that time was not being a friend
“Time is against us. We are extremely vulnerable, and need to be careful that messages are not hijacked and figures tampered with, while being transmitted electronically,” he said