Year 2015 is about to wind up and it was really an eventful year where new records were made and others broken.
In 2015, there was a change of presidential powers where the incumbent was sent packing by the opposition – the first to ever in the political history of Nigeria.
In the run up to the General Elections, (2015 was more about the elections), there were statements made during the campaigns from the two major political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party. Some of the statements were hilarious and some were didactic.
The Herald has selected some of the best quotes we believe really caught up with Nigerians.
1. “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” – President Muhammadu Buhari.
The president said this in his inaugural speech as he was sworn in as the 5th democratic leader which was held at the Eagles’ Square, Abuja. This statement got every Nigeria thinking of what he meant and generated a lot of optimism that the President will stay true to himself – he has his own mind and can’t be controlled.
2. There’s A Limit To What I Can Do Alone At 72 – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his regrets about not being President at a much younger age alongside. Speaking at his meeting with Nigerians residing in South Africa he admitted : “How I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor or just a few years after, then as a young man, now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do alone. But what brought me here I think mainly is because I love this country.” It will be recalled that he had vied for the top job four times.
3.Only God Knows That I Don’t Like Money – Amaechi
Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, on 3rd of August spate at Governor Nyesom Wike over attempts of pulling all trees to hinder his (Amaechi) possible appointment into President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet. Amaechi went to say: “My anger is that in Rivers they know I don’t like money. And I expect them to defend me that I don’t like money. Governor Nyesom Wike has again sponsored one advert in a bid to rubbish me. He will go and publish in the paper on Monday as advert. Only God knows that if there is one thing I don’t like, I don’t like money.”
4. I Would Employ Illiterates Into My Government – Ayo Fayose
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose on 3rd of July said he would make no hesitation in employing the services of illiterates into his government.
Fayose wrote on his twitter handle: “I will appoint illiterates as part of my govt because not being literate does not make anyone less intelligent than those who are educated. Those illiterates voted massively for me to become governor, nothing should preclude them from serving in my govt.”
5. Oshiomhole Is Suffering From Numerical Diarrhoea – Okonjo-Iweala
Former Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on 14th of July slams Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole of suffering from numerical diarrhoea after he alleged that she took $1billion to fund the re-election bid of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
Attacking the allegation by Governor Oshiomhole, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “The statement is just another example of the numerical diarrhea that seems to have afflicted His Excellency in recent times in his effort to damage the reputation of the former Minister. He has, within the last few months, asked Dr Okonjo-Iweala to explain all kinds of totally wild and unsubstantiated figures, ranging from $30 billion, $20 billion, $2.1 billion, N720 billion and now $1 billion.”
6. Iyabo Said I Was Going To Die In Office – Obasanjo
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in his book, ‘My Watch’, revealed that amongst his four children, his eldest daughter, Iyabo, told him he was going to die in office should he decide to go into politics.
Obasanjo said: “Iyabo was the most antagonistic. She burst out loudly, ‘I know you will join and you will die there and if you die, I will not weep.’
“I told her ‘if I die and you weep, it is for yourself and others, not for me as I will not know you are weeping.’ It is ironic that within 10 years, Iyabo became a Senator and I completed two terms of eight years without a scratch.”
7. “Mr Orubebe, you are a former Minister of the Federal Republic .You are a statesman in your own right. You should be careful about what you say or what allegations or accusations you make. Certainly you should be careful about your public conduct” – Attahiru Jega
The former INEC chairman said this to Godsday Orubebe, after the PDP party agent created an embarrassing scene at the collation centre in Abuja, trying to disrupt announcement of results.
8. Ojukwu is a great man, he died but his manhood lives on” – Patience Jonathan.
Dame Patience put a noble meaning into the word “manhood”, however internet users did not miss the opportunity to have a good laugh upon hearing it. It is worth mentioning that the former First Lady is often attacked in social media over grammatical blunders in her speech.
9. “Stealing is not corruption” – Goodluck Jonathan.
At the Presidential Media Chat on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 former President Goodluck Jonathan stated that “Stealing isn’t corruption”.
10. “I have never collected bribe in my life” – Rotimi Amaechi.
The former Rivers state governor, said this when questioned on corruption charges leveled against him during his ministerial screening at the Seante. Prev5 of 10Next
11. “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian” – Goodluck Jonathan.
The former president speaking at a special church service to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Jonathan reminded politicians that no ambition was worth the blood of innocent Nigerians, adding that if we continued to kill ourselves, there would be no nation to govern.
12. “May our Loyalty never be tested” – Fashola
The minister of power, work and housing said this in response to a question to god-fatherism during his ministerial screening in what many Nigerians see as a veiled response to the frosty relationship between himself and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu