2011 Election: I Solicit Makinde’s Support

Former Military Head of State and presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, says he is soliciting the support of the Primate of the Methodist Church, His Eminence, Ola Makinde, for his ambition to contest the 2011 presidential election.

The presidential hopeful on the platform of Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) visited Makinde this morning at the Westley House, Marina, Lagos Nigeria in company of some party stalwarts including former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari.

He said the visit was part of the nationwide consultation he has decided to embark on in respet to his ambition.

After a closed door meeting which lasted several hours, Buhari told reporters, through his campaign manager, Sule Hamma, that he was prepared to contest the seat against the aspirants in other political parties in the  country.

“We decided to start this process by visiting men of God and to speak to them and to explain our mission, to share with them our feelings and beliefs about the problems of our country and to share with them our vision and ways we think we can recreate a sense of responsibility in the country.”

Reminded that he was often seen as a religious fundamentalist, he said he has been to several men of God in the past.

“In 2003, I wrote to almost all the bishops in this country and visited them. Just as I visit them, so do I visit the traditional institutions and the Ulamas.

“If you ask why I should be so ambitious, I would tell you that I am being driven by something. I have contested twice and I am still not tired,” he said, adding that he would continue to contest for the position as long as he had the power to do so.”

—Eromosele Ebhomele