Former Head of State and the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in the April 2011 elections, Major-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), in Kaduna on Saturday warned that there would be revolution in Nigeria if the ruling Peoples Democratic Party failed to address the social injustice ravaging the country.
Buhari said the revolution could come in one form or the other, saying that he hoped that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party which never believed in social justice could handle the attendant consequences.
The former military ruler who spoke as a special guest at the empowerment programme of a CPC member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Usman Bawa, urged all elected officers on the platform of the party to emulate the lawmaker.
He said he was sure the last election was rigged in favour of the ruling party, adding that the leadership of the ruling party never prepared for real democracy in the country.
Said Buhari, “We know that we have been rigged out in the last election. Nothing can happen unless there is justice. The question of the Peoples Democratic Party and its leadership is that they don’t accept social justice. If there is no social justice in the country, in a question of time, there will be revolution in one form or the other.”
He added, “After the last general election, we went as far as to the Supreme Court but after that what happened in Kogi, Adamawa and Sokoto states and the by-elections? We believe that the PDP leadership is not prepared for real democracy and social justice. And I hope they will be strong enough to go through the consequences of their injustice.
“I want to speak about what happened in Igabi Constituency where members of CPC won in Kaduna State. The elected members of CPC in the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly were all there to educate people in Igabi and made sure that there was free and fair election and the CPC won.
“What I’m advocating is that for the local government election and 2015 general elections, God willing, every local government and constituency must behave like Igabi. Except if you don’t want to win or you want to remain as slaves in your own country, then you can go home and sleep.
“Otherwise if you must fight for your rights, you must wake up and ensure that justice is done. You must make sure that your votes count.”
Reacting to Buhari’s outburst, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party described Buhari as a “despot with aversion for democratic governance.”
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisah Metuh, said in a statement on Saturday that the remarks attributed to Buhari calling for a revolution indicated that the former Head of State was frustrated because of his repetitive failure and inability to win elections in the country.
He said that it was quite regrettable that Buhari had not come to terms with the reality of his rejection by Nigerians at the polls as affirmed by the courts.
He reminded the former Head of State that he (Buhari) was responsible for truncating democratic governance in the country and was still enjoying the freedom of expression which is a product of a constitutional order.
“Buhari’s statement did not come to us as a surprise. It is a sure sign of frustration over his inability and that of his party to win elections.”
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