President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed why he refused to anoint a presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress, (APC) during the presidential primaries when he was asked to do so.
He explained that he contested the presidential election three times and ended up at the Supreme Court without success and succeeded the 4th time through a democratic process, and wondered why he will anoint a presidential candidate of his choice in a democratic process.
He explained that the late Ahmadu Bello stood for fairness, equity and justice and as President, he also stood for same virtues. He stated this yesterday in Lafia during the 2023 Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial lecture organise by Nasarawa State government in collaboration with Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation. The president who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, urged Nigerians to accept the outcome of the election, advising aggrieved people to seek redress in court.
He said that the late Sardauna, Sir Ahmadu Bello was committed to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria and he stood for it till his death and urges Nigerians to embrace his selfless service and the legacies he left behind. The guest lecturer, at the 9th annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial lecture was delivered by Prof Patrick Lumumba of Kenya with the theme ‘credible elections as a panacea for search for quality leadership and legacy for good governance and sustainable democratic culture in Nigeria.
The Plateau State Governor and Chairman of Northern Governor’s forum, Simon Bako Lalong the northern Governor’s push hard for power to shift to the South to ensure fairness which is one of the virtues the late Ahmadu Bello stood for, fairness. Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who is the chief host, thanked Prof. Lumumba for honouring the occasion from Kenya and other Northern Governors and invited guests.
The 9th annual memorial lecture was attended by its chairman and former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu and other former Governors like Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Idris Abubakar of Kogi, Senator Tanko Al-Makura and Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State among others.