Contesting 2015 election was against my will, Buhari reveals

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that he contested the 2015 presidential election against his will.

According to the President, pressures were piled on hım in such a way that he could not say no to those who felt he was the man who could rescue the nation from falling apart.

President stated this in an interview with a magazine, The Interview.

He said: “You will recall that shortly before the 2011 presidential election, I had said it was the last time I would offer myself for elective position and I meant it, but the following years, we saw our country virtually falling apart on all fronts.

“People felt a rescue exercise was necessary and a large number believed I could do it.

“They made overtures to me and the pressure was so enormous that I could not say no. As they say, the rest is history. “

The president also declared his readiness to prosecute members of the All Progressives Congress, APC and those who supported his Presidency bid during the 2015 presidential election if any of them was involved in corrupt practices.

Debunking claims that he had been sparing those who sponsored his campaigns and members of his party in his ongoing anti-corruption war, Buhari vowed to go after any of his backers that cases of corruption could be established against.

He said: “Do you just grab people along the road and take them off to court for trial just because you want to create a semblance of balance?

“First, there has to be an accusation which must be properly investigated, and when a prima facie case has been built, you prosecute.

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“If any of my backers or party members has anything established against them, let’s see whether I will shield anyone from prosecution.

“There seems to be a preponderance of the People Democratic Party, PDP, members standing trial because they had been in power for 16 years, they had access to the public treasury and abused the trust reposed in them.

“You can be assured that anybody caught in corruption will answer for it irrespective of party, tribe or religion.”

On whether those who are returning looted funds would still be prosecuted, the President said he would wait for legal advice from the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
“We will note the recommendation of the Attorney General of the Federation. We do not want to deliberately disgrace people. All we want is public money back,” he explained.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews

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