Buhari will emerge Nigeria President – Dauda

Ibrahim Dauda, the National Publicity Secretary, Buhari Support Group Centre (BSGC), said “with the structures BSGC has on ground, General Muhammadu Buhari can become Nigeria’s president with a little effort”.

Dauda said this on Saturday in Abuja at a World Press Conference on the formal declaration of the retired general to contest the 2015 presidential election come 15 October.

The BSGC official said the support centre had put in place formidable structures and had active representatives at all levels of governance to support Buhari from the party primaries to the presidential election.

“Let us not forget that Gen. Buhari has a consistent record of being the first runner-up in the last three presidential elections held in the country.

“So, with just a little more effort, he can win the 2015 presidential election, bearing in mind that he is currently the Nigerian politician with the highest number of loyal supporters.

“In the last presidential election, he almost single-handedly floated the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at a time when the party lacked national presence, yet he was declared first runner-up in that election, with an amazing 12 million votes”.

NAN reports that questions asked at the briefing centred on the general’s age, stern military posture, religious bigotry and hardline stance as a disciplinarian.

Dauda then told NAN after the news conference that “the age factor is actually an advantage for the general. Yes, he has groomed many youths but experience is a critical factor for ruling the country in this case.

“Buhari is the only Nigerian politician that has held all the offices so he needs just a little advice to enable him to manage the problems we have now.

“We must bring in a credible personality. He quelled the maitatsine (a radical group similar to Boko Haram). The issue of age should be an advantage to him too.

“Endurance, tolerance, experience, discipline are his hallmarks. Are we interested in age or in solving the myriad of problems facing us?” he asked rhetorically.

The Director-General of the BDGC, Alhaji Umaru Dembo and the Director, Publicity, Dr Chida Maduekwe were present at the briefing.

The retired general, who would be 72 years in December, intends to declare his presidential ambition on 15 October at the Eagles Square in Abuja.