Buhari restates plans to contest for presidency under APC

FORMER Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)  has  reaffirmed his determination to contest the presidential  ticket of the proposed opposition political party, All Progressive Congress (APC), adding that the ticket is also  open  to all interested qualified members of the party.

He stated this at the maiden edition of the annual lecture of the Publisher and Chief Executive  Officer of Leadership Newspapers, Mr Sam Nda-Isiah, with the theme: ‘The role of Youths in Sustaining Democratic Values in Nigeria,’ which took place at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State on Wednesday, while fielding questions from newsmen.

When asked if he was going to step down in the case of  the emergence of a more formidable candidate on the platform of the  party, Buhari said, “No. Whoever thinks he has got a chance, let him come out because the more we are, the merrier it becomes; thank you very much.”

Also speaking further on the controversy surrounding the registration of the new party, the former military ruler said the process towards getting the registration was in top gear, stressing that  for the purpose of articulating the process, his party, the CPC had concluded arrangements to hold its convention on the May 11, 2013 alongside  the All Nigerians People party (ANPP) and the APC.

Accordingly he said, “CPC will have its convention on 11th of this month, ANPP will do theirs and you are aware ACN has successfully held theirs in Lagos  last month.”  

Buhari, however, commended the Federal and the state governments for coming to  terms  with reality that if youth were not  adequately engaged  and catered for,  that  the country would  continue to grapple with problems, saying “I agreed with Federal and states governments that youth are problems if not well  catered for.”


He, therefore, enjoined the Federal Government to concentrate on provision of education and youth empowerment which, he said, if adequately provided would be an automatic panacea of youth restiveness across the country.