Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, on Sunday boasted that the All Progressives Congress would triumph over the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party in the 2015 general elections, especially if the conduct of the polls would be free and fair.
El-Rufai, who is the APC Deputy National Secretary, made this statement at an event in Zaria, Kaduna State, organized by the Movement for Better Future, where he also noted that the PDP had failed the nation with its unfulfilled promises.
He described President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as one that could not tackle the security challenges in the country.
El-Rufai, who added that the proposed six-year single term by the National Assembly was not feasible, noted that the country’s problems were beyond the proposed single term and the amendment of the constitution.
According to him, the country’s problems revolve around the operators.
He said, “I do not think 2015 is around the corner, it is two years from now. However, the APC is capable of kicking the PDP out of power. The PDP has ruled the country, and it has failed to live up to its promises. The PDP government has not provided us with basic outlets of security and prosperity.
“We believe that in a fair and free election, APC is going to defeat the PDP. All we are doing now is to come together, so that we can organise ourselves in order to put in place a system to protect our votes. We are taking this measure knowing that PDP does not win elections.
“Members of the party know how to write results that they want, and we have to think of a way to protect our votes. That is what we are working on.”
He added, “I think the impact of APC can be gauged from the performance of the states that are already being controlled by the parties that constitute APC.
“You cannot compare the performances of governors Rauf Aregbesola and Babatunde Fashola, for instance, with some of those PDP governors that only know how to get allocations and share. So we can be confident that Nigerians can see the difference between a performing government and one not doing anything.”
On the single six-year term for the president and governors, the former minister said, “I do not think six-year single term is feasible in this country. I do not think there is a difference between the six-year single term and the two terms of four years each. I do not think that is the issue. The constitution that we are operating is from the United State, and its operators have not bothered to change their constitution to a single term for their president.
“I do not know why we are changing our own. The problem of Nigeria is not the single term, it is not the constitution. It is the quality of people in public office.
“When you are not prepared for a job, you start preparing what to do when you get to the office. But if you are really prepared, the four-year period is enough for you to show that you can perform.”
The 2011 presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari; the Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and former Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Ango Abdullahi were also present at the event.