Governor Sule Lamido
By Ibrahim Shuaibu
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State Sunday berated the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 general election, General Muhammad Buhari (rtd), on his recent remarks that 2015 general election should not be rigged.
According to him, “When General Buhari took over power from President Shehu Shagari in 1983, he categorically told the world that the coup was carried out because all the political parties engaged in various acts of rigging and other form of election malpractices.”
Lamido said this at the weekend, during a courtesy visit by his Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, when he paid a visit to the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Nuhu Sunusi.
“Buhari has no moral right to accuse anybody on rigging because his party CPC also rigged election in the last general election at the area it was strong enough to do so,” he said.
The governor stated that Buhari had earlier argued that not only the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) rigged the election then but also that all the other four political parties rigged election according to their strength and might at their constituencies.
However, Lamido maintained that no matter how elections were allegedly rigged, the elected political leaders have the people's mandate to stand up against the present predicaments that have befallen the North.
“In respect of our political differences we as leaders our main focus is to correct the anomalies and the institutions that were bastardised by past military regimes,” he said.
By what I have seen in terms of developmental project executed by Katsina State Governor and other state governors in the federation I am optimistic that Nigeria will soon get out from the current predicament provided our democracy remain sustainable,” Lamido said.
Earlier, Shema told the emir that the current situation in the country required collective effort to get it resolved through mass prayers.
Also, Sanusi had commended the duo on their foresight and commitment toward providing new lease of life to their people by executing a number of developmental projects.
The emir added that, the secret behind the peace and progress enjoyed in Jigawa and Katsina States was as a result of good and just governance.