How I curbed vote-buying — Buhari

Yesterday, PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari recounted how he instructed voters to collect money from candidates who offered to buy their votes on February 25 and March 18, but to vote according to their conscience.

Given the opportunity for a free and fair election as well as the absence of interference during the elections, he added, Nigerians had demonstrated their ability to choose their leaders without being told what to do.

The president was pleased with the remarkable commitment to democracy displayed by Nigerians in the presidential, National Assembly, and subsequent governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, and declared that Nigeria’s democracy had truly matured.

Buhari was quoted in a statement by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President for Media and Publicity. Given the opportunity for a free and fair vote, no one can dictate their decision. I am disappointed that certain candidates lost the election.

“However, I am inspired by the fact that voters were able to decide for themselves who won and who lost. Even though there was no money to distribute due to the currency change, I advised voters to take the money and vote according to their consciences.

At a farewell meeting with outgoing U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard at the State House in Abuja, the president expressed complete satisfaction with his role in the election process.

During her three-and-a-half years as ambassador to the United States, she had made tremendous strides in advancing Nigeria-U.S. relations.

In response to a question posed by Ambassador Leonard, President Buhari stated that he intended to be a “big landlord” upon his return to Nigeria, working on his farms and caring for his more than 300 animals, adding, “I am eager to go.”

In her remarks, the American Ambassador expressed satisfaction with the progress made in Nigeria-US relations over the past three-and-a-half years, citing the recent institution of a five-year visa regime between the two countries; active collaboration in security and the supply of military hardware, including warplanes and soon-to-be fighter helicopters; and cooperation in the health sector to combat HIV and COVID, assuring that the US will continue to support Nigeria in this regard.

Ambassador Leonard expressed her gratitude and that of the US government for the continued role of the President in ensuring regional security and strengthening democracy as a form of government. She cited the President’s robust response to the recent surge of coups d’état in West Africa as commendable.

(TNT)