I Am A Former Military Ruler, Now A
Converted Democrat – Buhari
Below is the text of address by APC
presidential candidate Gen. Buhari at an
Interactive Session with the Nigerian Press
Organisation, NPO in Abuja today Tuesday
17th March…
Thank you for honoring me with your
presence here today. Thank you for
heeding my invitation to this special
meeting with key stakeholders in the
Nigerian media. Our country is on the
verge of something new. The tide has
turned and the world can sense the
wave of change that is about to flood
this nation. In less than two weeks, the
Nigerian electorate will head to the polls
to make their voices heard.
Through the ballot, without a single shot
fired, a change revolution will likely take
place. There are two specific reasons why I
have invited you here today.
The first is to use the opportunity to say a
special thank you to the Nigerian media for
the role you have played in advancing our
country’s democracy thus far, and especially
for being a platform through which
Nigerians’ cry for CHANGE was articulated all
around the world.
On newspaper pages, TV screens and radio
waves, the alarming depth of corruption
and impunity in our country, the terrifying
level of insecurity, and the grim state of our
economy were kept constantly before the
world’s eyes, making it impossible for the
current government to doctor the truth,
despite their meanest efforts. I urge you to
not relent in your role as watchdogs, to
continue to be the voice of the people. The
health of Nigeria’s democracy rests partly on
you.
Without a robust and thriving media, the
masses would have no voice. The electorate
would also not have sufficient information
to make sound decisions, such as deciding
to vote out a clueless government and vote
in CHANGE. Secondly, I want to give you my
full assurances that in this democratic
dispensation, I will ensure that the Nigerian
constitution is upheld. This includes respect
for the media, respect for the right to free
expression and freedom of speech. Page 1
of 2 any of you are aware of Decree 4 of
1984, which was heavily criticised. I have
said elsewhere that I cannot change the
past. But I can change the present and the
future.
Dictatorship goes with military rule as do
edicts such as Decree 4. However, I am a
former–former, note the emphasis on the
word ‘former’–military ruler and now a
converted democrat, who is ready to
operate under democratic norms. I am not
only subjecting myself to the rigours of
democratic elections for the fourth time, but
even after being elected, I will continue to
promote the consolidation of democracy in
our great country, Nigeria, by guaranteeing
that the media’s freedom is not
compromised in any way.
I give you my full assurances that the
Nigerian media will be free under our APC
government. I also want to use this
opportunity to appeal to you to use your
media outlets in shaping positive public
discourse and eschew hate speech
mongering and slanderous political
rhetorics which heat up the polity for the
sake of peace and stability of our dear
nation.
Thank you, once again, for being here this
afternoon. I look forward to working with
you in future, and to similar meetings which
shall take place on a regular basis to keep
the Nigerian people constantly informed
about the activities of the government that
they will have elected to serve them. General
Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
