Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)
The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has assured the media that his administration will uphold their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms if elected.
Buhari gave the assurance at an interactive forum with media owners including members of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria as well as owners of broadcast stations, at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The APC candidate explained that his actions during his tenure as military Head-of-State should not be used to judge him today.
According to him, he has no power to change the past but that he can substantially change the present and have a positive impact on the future.
Buhari said, “I want to give you my full assurances that in this democratic dispensation, I will ensure that the Nigerian Constitution is upheld. This includes respect for the Media, respect for the right to free expression and freedom of speech.
“Many of you are aware of decree number 4 of 1984 which was heavily criticised. I have said elsewhere, I cannot change the past; but I can change the present and the future.
“Dictatorship goes with military rule with laws such as decree number 4. However, I am a former military ruler and now a converted democrat who is willing to operate under democratic norms.
“I am not only subjecting myself to the rigours of democratic elections but for the first time after being elected, I will continue to promote the consolidation of democracy in our great country of Nigeria by ensuring that media freedoms are not tampered with in anyway.”
He told the gathering that the tide had turned and the world can sense the wind of change that was about to hit this nation.
The APC candidate also said in less than two weeks, the Nigerian electorate would head to the polls to make their voices heard through the ballot without a single shot fired and the change revolution would take place.
While expressing gratitude to the media for keeping the issue of the corruption going on under the current administration on the front burner, Buhari enjoined the media not to give up the fight for a better society.
In response to a question from the audience as to why he was running away from a debate with President Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari said there was nothing worth debating with the President.
He maintained that the problems of these nation as well as “the gross incompetence and cluelessness” of the PDP-led administration were well known as such standing and arguing over them on a podium would not change anything.
In response to another question, as to whether he was predisposed to forming a national government, Buhari said his party would decide because the issue is not one he could take a unilateral decision on.
He said, “Just because I have earned the Presidential ticket by winning the primaries doesn’t mean I can impose my personal opinions on issues. “The party hierarchy must participate in important national decisions.
“I like to believe that I am a system man. We have a committee that sat for several weeks and drew the manifesto of our party and whatever I am going to do will be in line with our manifesto.
“I went round the 35 states and had a town hall meeting in Lagos and Kano and here in Abuja I emphasized three fundamental issues: Insecurity, the death of the economy and corruption.
“These three issues, you can put Nigeria’s problems under any one of them and for constituencies with urgent social problems I emphasized education and infrastructural development then the issue of power.”
He promised that Nigeria would be a better place under an APC administration.
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