El-Rufai made me change my mind about 2015 – Buhari

The All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari yesterday said that his decision to contest the 2015 presidential election was at the instance of Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who prevailed on him to run again.

General Buhari had said that the 2011 presidential election would be his last presidential contest. He has so far contested three times and lost all.

The former head of state disclosed this in Kaduna at the formal declaration of the governorship ambition of the former FCT Minister.

El-Rufai is eyeing the Kaduna State Government House on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 elections.

“I developed cold feet to come and present El-Rufai to you because of the sacrifices which he wanted to make on my behalf which I turned down. He said he would work for me full-time if only I would contest but I told him that if I must contest he must also come out to contest because I believe he has the qualities required to make Kaduna State great again. These qualities are firstly competence, integrity and courage.

“Whoever is interested in the development of this country must have these qualities. I have seen the way El-Rufai handled Abuja; we know that he loves this country, and he is endowed with these three qualities I have mentioned.

“So, please people of Kaduna State, I assure you, I am not being arrogant, I am just being honest, if you vote El-Rufai, you are not doing him a favour, but you are doing yourself a favour. El-Rufa’i is a kind of person that will respect you if you respect yourself, and if you don’t respect yourself, he will help you go down the drain.”

El-Rufai, in his remark at the occasion, said he decided to contest for governor so that he can ensure accountability in public spending.

“We will not, and must not allow the incompetence of the current PDP government to drag us down. The reign of underdevelopment and incompetence must be ended immediately.

“The people of Kaduna state have the power to bring about meaningful change. We have the power to free our state from corruption, greed, nepotism and incompetence. That power is guaranteed in your right to vote. And that power must be used judiciously to throw out the gross incompetence being demonstrated by those in authority today. That power is what we must use in 2015 to elect leaders that have the desire and will to move Kaduna State to the path of unity, peace, progress and prosperity”, he added.

(Daily Post)