Buhari, who spoke when 13 political parties, which pledged to work with him for the purpose of the forthcoming general elections, paid him a visit at his Support Group Office in Abuja, lamented that the country had made more money between 1999 and this year, than she made between 1914 (when amalgamation took place) and now.
He showed appreciation to the political parties for the trust reposed in him.
“I honestly appreciate how you arrived at this decision to co-operate with us in this election. This decision is very patriotic. We have to appreciate the stage we are in. We have to realise that we can save the system and our country, if we come together,” he said.
Buhari challenged the ruling party to tell Nigerians how money generated in the last 16 years has been utilized.
He said: “We challenge the PDP; let them account for their stay in power for 16 years of rulership, in terms of the fundamental objectives we have been talking about, in the three most important aspects we have been talking about – security, economy and corruption.
“We have been very consistent about these issues but people who are sitting on the periphery have kept making noise and wasting our time. Let them come and defend themselves in what they have done in the last 16 years, with the incredible resources they made within this period.
“The incredible resources this country realized within this period, which is much more than what the country made since the amalgamation in 1914, if you go and get this record from the Central Bank.
“The type of money we made in the last 16 years, we have never made it before.
“We used to have Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Shipping Line, Nigeria Railways, etc. But what do we have now? Nothing. Look at the state of our Naira. Now, you have to get N220 or more for a dollar. How can we develop under this system?
“We appreciate the stage we are in our political development. We have been sentenced to underdevelopment by the PDP.
“So, we do appreciate the role you are playing right now. Our survival as a nation depends on our coming together and insisting there must be free, fair and credible election.”
The political parties that came to pay allegiance to the opposition candidate are Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM; African People’s Alliance, APA; KOWA Party; Social Democratic Party, SDP; African Democratic Congress, AD; and HOPE Democratic Party.
Others are Democratic People’s Party, DPP; United Peoples Party, UPP; Accord Party, Independent Democratic, ID; Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN; and Action Alliance, AC.
Chairman of PDM, Alhaji Bashir Yusuf, said leaders of the coalition parties after series of meetings considered and accepted to support Gen. Buhari and cast their votes on the side of truth.
He said: “We have collaborated with the APC, and have decided to cast our votes for Gen. Buhari, but unfortunately some political parties have decided to serve their masters rather than the country.”
According to him the objectives of the parties are to mobilize Nigerians to play greater role in political activities in the country and ensure they are given the right to elect their leaders in a free, fair and credible electoral process; monitor and exert pressure on INEC as well as the government and its agencies to uphold the sanctity of dates of elections; conduct free, fair and credible elections; declare winners and ensure they take office according to the provisions of the law.
“It is the opinion of NEC that the incumbent President who has been at the helm of affairs of the nation for the last six years has failed.
“In contrast, Gen. Buhari has a track record of achievement in these areas as a former Head of State and later Executive Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF.
“We believe that it is time for Nigeria to give Gen. Buhari the chance. In view of the forgoing, the parties unanimously resolved to support your candidature for President of Nigeria and calls on all members of other political parties to vote for you in the presidential election.
“We are independent political parties and still have candidates running for the other elections and we are supporting our candidates.
“But in the critical office where change can happen and can affect all other areas, we believe in Gen. Buhari and we believe that the opposition as a whole must come together and salvage this nation.
“Now, the time has come for us to voice our support for your candidature, being the leading candidate of the opposition and that is why we are here,” he added.
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