The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) has denied statements going round that he is in London for medical check-up , rather saying he came over to find “some relative peace”.
“After visiting 35 states and holding town hall meetings in Lagos, Kano and Abuja and having forced on me six weeks of holidays, I have to come away from Nigeria to get some relative peace” insisting that “that is what brought me here”, he said.
He added that Nigerians “have been seeing me on the television, hearing me on the radio, visiting the whole; I never had any health problem”.
The Sokoto-born politician, who spoke during a lecture in London think thank, Chatham House, said the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria is crucial as it is expected to further democratic consolidation on the African continent in general.
“On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.
“I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa.
“But as a starting point, we need to get this critical election right by ensuring that they go ahead and deprive the zones who want to scuttle it the benefit of drowning our fledgling democracy.
“That way, we’ll all see democracy and democratic consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.”
General Buhari also explained that his priority if elected as president is to go tough on the terrorist group, Boko Haram, and tackle general insecurity in the country.
The APC candidate also promised to tackle corruption by blocking all channels of wastage in the economy and ensure that corrupt persons are not appointed to serve in his government.
“We will run a functional economy driven by our wide view that sees growth not in an end by itself but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike,” he said.
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