Presidential elections-Nigeria - The presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday broke down in tears in the middle of a speech to bring his campaign to an end, and at a point when he said he was dedicating his life to ending the suffering of all the people of Nigeria. Buhari had earlier in his speech which he delivered at the International Conference Centre in Abuja said that "this campaign is the third and last one for me, since, after it, I will not present myself again for election into the office of president". He struggled for a few minutes to regain his composure, but continued in an emotion- laden voice, at which point the hall fell silent with several people in his entourage and from the audience also moved to tears, including former FCT minister, Nasir el-Rufai.

This is what the CPC presidential candidate was saying before he broke down: "I am in this solely for the love of my country and the concern for its destiny and the fate of its people. And that is why, despite the many disappointments along the way, I am still in the struggle and will remain in it to the end. I have decided to dedicate the remainder of my life to fighting for the people of this country, until their right is restored."

At the end of his speech, Buhari said: "I call upon the governments in power at all levels, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the security agencies at all levels to be fair and just to all parties and candidates in all elections for all offices."

To the people of Nigeria, Buhari said: "You have persevered during the accreditation process and you have waited patiently to cast your votes. That is good but, for our circumstance, it is not good enough. You must maintain your presence during the counting and collating of the votes and the announcement of the results."

He continued: "Because you have not done this in all cases, they have already started turning your victories into defeats. The massive rigging that took place last Saturday is unacceptable, and you must not allow a repeat performance next Saturday.

"Do not slacken on your vigilance, because the price for freedom is still eternal vigilance, and nowhere is this truer than in the attempt to entrench a democratic culture and protect democratic institutions. Now, you must first accept that this is a battle for your freedom, and only you can fight it."

Buhari said, "We can only give you the leadership but you must be ready to fight for it. We are ready if you are. In the end we must all, in unison, send the PDP government packing by giving it a punch on the mouth."

About the problems facing Nigeria, Buhari said, "With all due respect, the PDP government has not just failed to solve these problems but over the past 12 years it has just aggravated them. If we do not tackle these issues squarely and urgently, then we run the risk of becoming a failed state."

He said: "Solving these problems is the main responsibility of government. Any government that cannot solve these problems for its citizens is a worthless government."

Earlier, a member of the Board of Trustees of the ruling PDP, Isiaku Ibrahim, announced his defection to the CPC. Ibrahim, who was an NPN financier in the Second Republic, said PDP knows nothing but rigging and that God has provided two humble people for the youth to vote for.

He said: "Saturday is an opportunity to thank God by going to vote for Buhari. I want to assure you, we the people of Nasarawa, come Saturday, we are going to give you 95 per cent. I am saying this because I have full confidence, because of my political antecedent. The youth will unanimously vote Buhari/Bakare."

Shuaib Shuaib

Leadership/14/04/2011