Posted by By MUYIWA OYINLOLA on
Lagos lawyer and presidential candidate of National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2003 general elections, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) has endorsed the candidacy of the presidential flagbearer of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for the April general elections.
Lagos lawyer and presidential candidate of National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2003 general elections, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) has endorsed the candidacy of the presidential flagbearer of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for the April general elections.
He disclosed on Sunday that his endorsement was based on the former head of state's outstanding record of anti-corruption crusade, which he said Buhari brought to bear during his administration between December 1983 and August 1985.
Fawehinmi who received the former Army General and his entourage at his Ikeja G.R.A. residence at about 6:04pm also said that two other notable presidential candidates, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of the Action Congress (AC), are not fit to rule the country.
Also at the weekend, Buhari visited the Ikeja home of the late business mogul and acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola. He also paid courtesy calls on Pastor E.A Adeboye, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bishop David Oyedepo, of Winners Chapel, and Pastor Tunde Bakare, of Latter Rain Assembly.
On Buhari's credentials, Fawehinmi said: 'His profile has been very much known to me long before now. During the turbulent days of 1983 December 31st and August 1985, I had cause to support many of his activities.
'But primarily and fundamentally, for Decree 3 of 1984, ‘Recovery of public property' from the rogues that looted the treasury, I did not know him before then, I knew him by his principles, determination and passion to rid the country of corruption."
While noting that 'When we talk of anti-corruption war, there is no way you will exclude General Buhari," the lawyer added that morality should play a significant role in determining who leads the nation after the exit of President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29.
'I don't want to hear what a political party is going to do, whether ANPP, or PDP, or NDP, or which other political organization. Tell me who is leading the party, tell me who is leading the government, that's my concern. It's a matter of leadership.
'This is a serious election, very serious one. I'm happy, either morally or legally, one has fallen by the way side. With an avalanche of revelations of scandals whether $145m from the PTDF or other areas that have not been exhumed, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar can never be our president, that's clear," he said.
Having called to question the morality of the vice president to aspire to the office of the president, having been indicted by the PTDF report, he advised Yar'Adua to make public his health record.
'Anybody can be sick, but once you aspire to lead us, we must know the state of your health, that has to be published," he asserted.
Fawehinmi called on Nigerians to vote out the PDP in the April elections, alleging that the party has brought shame and backwardness to the country in the last eight years.
Furthermore, he called on Nigerians to resist any attempt to postpone the forthcoming elections or foist an interim government on the nation by Obasanjo.
'Nobody will accept any postponement of the election. May 29 is May 29. Nobody will tolerate interim government," he said.