Ekiti Group In North-America Endorses Buhari For President

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News, Nigeria 2015 Election Saturday, January 31st, 2015

Ayo Balogun – Following his sterling track records, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Ekiti Bibiire Coalition, North America Chapter, has thrown its weight behind the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in the February election.

“Successful Presidents are hardworking and persistent. They set ambitious goals for themselves and move heaven and earth to meet them. They are open-minded. They are attentive to the emotions of the governed. They are honest in what they say, in what they do. They are honest to those who elected them. They answer questions and don’t side step them.

“They are willing to question traditional values and try new ways of doing things. They are imaginative. They are tender minded with great concern for the poor. They are honest and willing to talk about the challenges affecting the nation and compassionate about people’s needs. If the President cannot see the world through the eyes of ordinary, poor Nigerians how can he understand them, better yet, help them, the group asked in a statement it issued Saturday.

The Secretary General of the organization, Mr. Bayo Oluwasanmi in a statement affirmed its members believed Gen. Buhari possessed all the qualities enumerated, declaring that it was a waste of time to “catalog the ineptitude of Jonathan as President, as many Nigerians were currently living witnesses of the wickedness and woes of the President Jonathan-led era.

It held Jonathan’s Presidency “could best be described as a misery memoir”.

The opposition candidate, the group emphasized has capacity for strong leadership and was not afraid to work with any Nigerian irrespective of party affiliation, religious views, or ethnicity to solve the problems confronting the nation.

Insisting that Gen Buhari’s past records speak eloquently for him, the group highlighted that before becoming Head of state, from 1976-1978, he was appointed the Petroleum minister and head of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, Military junta.

It stated the Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries during his tenure, were refining and exporting oil as well as masterminded the construction of 20 oil depots across Nigeria, laying over 3200km of pipeline.

In addition, the group recalled Gen Buhari took over from a very corrupt government “(similar to what we find ourselves in today)”, and ensured as many corrupt public officers as possible were punished

The organization indicated that the opposition candidate reduced inflation from 23% to 5%. the naira was closely competing with the dollar and pounds and Nigerians could spend naira abroad.

“He refuted pressure from the IMF to devalue the naira to promote trade and resolved to trade by barter in the international market. This led to the IMF supporting the candidacy of IBB, who helped carry out their plans

“He instilled culture of discipline in Nigerians, and promoted the principle of first come first serve, regardless of position or class and discouraged oppression.”

As the chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under late Gen. Sanni Abacha, the association indicated that Buhari constructed more roads than the Nigerian government has constructed in the last 15 years, along with construction of several amenities.

It observed that General Buhari was the only past president without foreign accounts and real estate in the country and beyond the shores of Nigeria adding that he discovered and nominated late Dora Akunyili for NAFDAC position.