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Buhari Urges Nigerians To Accept Democracy As Lifestyle, Not Government System

By Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja
20 June 2015   |   5:36 am
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged Nigerians to be patient and accept democracy, not as a system of government, but as a lifestyle to ensure development of the country
Buhari

Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged Nigerians to be patient and accept democracy, not as a system of government, but as a lifestyle to ensure development of the country.

The President said this when he paid homage to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, after attending the Juma’at prayer at the Lowcost Mosque, in Daura, Katsina State.

He stated: “If Nigerians continuously follow the tenets of democracy, the country will always be at peace, since democracy on its own, with its institutions, has the mechanism for resolving conflicts peacefully.”

The President, who delivered his speech in Hausa, urged those aggrieved after this year’s general elections to seek redress through democratic means and institutions.

Buhari noted that Nigeria was adopting democracy from the western nations and learning fast by avoiding mistakes made when studying the weaknesses and strengths of those nations.

According to him, if Nigerians decide to be hasty, some avoidable mistakes can be made, stressing elections at all levels must be conducted based on democratic principles. He urged those interested in elective positions to look for a political platform of their choice, declare their interests and the party would support them.

The President said in 2002 when he joined politics, many people did not give him a chance because they knew his antecedents as a military officer.

He added that this year’s elections had clearly shown that it is God that chooses who becomes a leader. “It is not by power; it is not by wealth, but by the Grace of God that I won the election,” he said.

The President said he decided to contest elections because of his commitment to serve the people and not to be served or to amass wealth, adding that he had served the nation in different capacities in the past and had not had so much money in the banks, either locally or abroad or anywhere in the world.

He said all he had over time is integrity and commitment to serve the people and promised to fulfill his promises to the people. Earlier, the Emir said he had known Buhari for his consistency, which had become the hallmark of his integrity.

He said he was happy that Buhari was eventually elected as the President of the country after some trials, saying he was not new in government and wherever he had served, he always distinguished himself with integrity and in all he had returned home without a kobo.

The emir urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration and allow Buhari to deliver on his promises. Umar also urged Nigerians to support the administration with prayers in its new responsibility.

The President attended the Juma’at prayer with his kinsmen, where the Chief Imam, Alhaji Musa Mansir, prayed for peace and development in the country. The cleric also urged Nigerians to pray for their leaders at all times.

He also spoke on the benefit of Ramadan and urged all to extend the hands of fellowship to others, as well as give support to the less privileged persons in society. Many residents of Daura thronged both the mosque and the emir’s palace to have a glimpse of the President.

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