2015: Buhari’s Ideas And Other Parameters Are Archaic – Presidency

The presidency on Friday, dismissed the chances of former Head of State and three-time presidential candidate, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), winning the 2015 general election.

informationng.com reports that last Wednesday, in Abuja, Buhari had given indication that he may yet run again for the coveted seat depending on the outcome of the ongoing merger talks by the major opposition political parties.

The Daura-born general, who had earlier said 2011 would be the last time hwe would run for presidency having failed in his bid thrice, said the merger and calls from his political associates, might make him change his mind.

However, reacting to the retired general’s possible volte face, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, on Friday, said that even if Buhari contested, he would not win the election.

Okupe while admitting that Jonathan had not set his sights on recontesting in 2015, said Buhari’s ambition could not send jitters down the spine of the Peoples Democratic Party, which Jonathan belongs to.

He said, “It is a free country and anyone can contest any election. Also, anyone can change his or her mind. If Buhari said he would not contest before and has changed his mind, he is free to do that. But if someone said he would not contest and later said he would contest, it shows an inconsistent political disposition.

“Buhari left government a long time ago. His ideas and other parameters are archaic. I don’t think he stands a chance to win the election in 2015 if he decides to contest.”

According to him, the ongoing merger talks among the opposition parties were not capable of intimidating the ruling party.

He said, “Mergers are not a new thing. We have always had mergers in the political history of this country. But you need to look at the components of this current merger they are talking about. They are not a suitable alternative to the PDP. They have not shown themselves to be suitable alternatives.”

Describing the parties in merger talks as suffering from ‘inferiority complex,’ Okupe stated that the PDP was superior to all them.

“They don’t have superior programmes or ideologies. They are not more credible than the PDP. They are not better than the PDP. They don’t have a credible candidate that can beat PDP’s candidate.  It is obvious that the alliance between the parties will not work.

“In fact, the merger is an acceptance of inferiority complex on the part of the parties involved in the merger. If you look at it critically, the merger is an apparent desire to win power at all costs. It is not a proper desire.

“The merger shows that the political parties involved in it lack political support and goodwill. It does not mean the PDP will rest on its oars, we will keep working hard” Okukpe added.