Buhari a smart man for pushing for free, fair and credible general elections – declares Dogara

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has been described as a smart man in insisting that he will ensure that the country’s upcoming general election will be free, fair and transparent.

The allegation was made by former Speaker of the House of Representatives Barr Yakubu Dogara, who said the president’s decision to remain neutral is an open invitation to Nigerians to mirror themselves to him and the world about their true selves in in charge. they will freely set in place.

The former speaker delivered a keynote address at the ACIPA Day of Prayers, Awards, and Book Dedication/Launch held at ECWA Headquarters, Jos, Plateau State.

Yakubu Dogara said, “The upcoming election is not about any candidate, it’s about us. It’s about who we are and the values ​​we want to bring to the world. Herein lies the role of the church – to serve as our moral compass and to warn us of the choices we face.”

According to him: “The questions on our lips should be: where has the candidate you want to vote for ever been, because he can only lead us to where he has been and who the candidate is, because he can only reproduce what he is. , not what he wants to be. We all have a duty to point to the truth, no matter who is for or against. Let’s do it for Nigeria and for posterity.”

“I understand that the theme of today’s event is ‘The Role of Northern Christians Past, Present and Future in Nigeria’s Development’. You will all agree that this is a very broad topic with a plethora of literature effectively covering the field,” he said.

He added: “I dare say in summary and without fear of contradiction that without the heroic roles played by some of our brothers and sisters in moments of national danger in Nigeria, Nigeria might not have existed as we know it today. .”

He also said: “There is hardly a Northern Christian family that does not bear the scars of war to keep Nigeria one. It is equally gratifying that our father, who oversaw Nigeria in those darkest moments, is still leading the national effort in prayers for repentance, national healing and unity.

Yakubu Dogara stressed, “It is therefore clear that the fact cannot be overemphasized that we are equal stakeholders in the Nigeria project, therefore we must strive like never before to ensure that this country fulfills its true potential so that the sacrifices of our heroes are in the past. do not waste.”

According to him, “That is why I intend to reflect on the upcoming general election with regard to what we must do now, during and after the election to advance the work for which so many of our associates paid the highest price. .”

He also said that “Nigeria’s only problem is undoubtedly leadership. Because without leadership we cannot restore the economy, the decay of the infrastructure, the security and the road to national prosperity. It is said that “everything comes and goes with leadership”. No society throughout history has ever risen above the level of its leadership.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t care about the content anymore, it’s all tribalism. Is he on our team and are we going to get what we want? These are the questions that concern us when choosing leaders. With this inverted value system, if you’ve ever wondered what the bottom looks like in terms of leadership recruitment in Nigeria, this is it,” he added.

However, he said: “But for Nigeria to rise, we must refuse to compromise on the competence and character of anyone who wants to become president of this country. I have yet to meet a farmer who sows chaff and expects a bountiful harvest.

Yakubu Dogara warned that “It should not be understood that I advocate perfection, since I know enough to know that throughout history the task of building a civilization has always fallen upon the shoulders of imperfect men and women.”

He further emphasized that: “For none of us, not even angels, is perfect. As Christians, we know that Lucifer was once an archangel before he fell from grace. But we have a duty to question the character of those seeking office, especially the highest office, to make sure that the worst of us do not rule over the best of us.”

According to him, “In the upcoming election, who we elect as president has nothing to do with the candidate, it’s all about who we are. Like it or not, the stories that dominate the global media space about Nigeria are about the ‘Nigerian Prince’.

He went on to say, “An average Nigerian is seen as a con artist with foreign leaders throwing diplomacy to the wind and calling Nigeria fantastically corrupt.”

“Finally, what I have said is that our leadership, when chosen freely and transparently, is a clear statement of who we really are,” he concluded.