The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday stated that the fight against corruption is the focus of his bid for another four-year term, as official campaigning got under way for elections next year.
Elections are set to be on February 16, four years after Buhari’s first came into power which saw him become the first opposition candidate in the history of Nigeria to defeat a sitting president.
The former military, 75, at a campaign launch in the capital Abuja on Sunday maintained that he had delivered on his promises to improve security, the economy as well as tackle corruption.
However, he admitted that there was still work to do so everyone can benefit, not just the few, adding: “Our choices will shape us, our economic security and our future prosperity.
“Nigeria, more than ever before, needs a stable and people-centred government to move the agenda for our country forward.”
Shortly after he came into office, Buhari made a vow to recover what he said were “mind-boggling” sums of public money stolen during administrations. before him.
His campaign focused on anti-corruption, has yet to secure any high-profile convictions while his opponents have accused him of mounting a political witch-hunt.
He announced on Sunday that graft remained an existential threat and despite gains, “there is still much ground to cover to stop systemic corruption”.
“We are committed to deepening the work we started this first term such that the nation’s assets and resources continue to be organised and utilised to do good for the common man.”
Buhari additionally indicated job creation, diversifying the economy away from a dependence on oil, and education as central planks of his campaign.
All three are equally seen as important, as about 60 percent of Nigeria’s more than 180 million people are under the age of 30, and the country is expected to become the world’s third most populous by 2050.
The electoral law in Nigeria provides for 90 days’ campaigning and Buhari is one of 78 candidates from 91 registered political parties who will contest for the presidential position.
However the campaign is expected to be a two-horse race between Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Abubakar, a former vice-president under president Olusegun Obasanjo, seems to have momentum, as disaffection with Buhari has grown within the APC in recent months.
Buhari’s response to an escalation of violence between farmers and herders in central states has been taken as lukewarm.
His political opponents have equally accused him of using the security and anti-corruption agencies to target them, leading to a wave of defections.
