Gen. Mohammadu Buhari Pix: Sun News Publishing

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Basking in the euphoria of the solidarity visits by party faithful to him, presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Gen. Mohammadu Buhari on Wednesday took on his running mate, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, deploring the latter’s romance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government at the expense of his party’s.

According to him, Chief Ezeoke would soon meet his waterloo, should he continue to lead the ANPP astray.

General Buhari, who received in his office, in Abuja, a delegation of the Benue State executive members of the party, accompanied by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Architect David Umoru, asked rhetorically: “Why is the National Chairman of the ANPP oscillating between the villa and his office? For what? See the embarrassment they are receiving everywhere.”

However, Chief Ume-Ezeoke, in his reaction, said he was not bothered about what the Buhari group said about him as he would not abandon the cause of unity and deepening of democracy in the country, which informed his party’s decision to join the GNU and not for personal gains.

Buhari told his visitors that he had made up his mind to be focused, adding that no amount of blackmail would distract him from siding with the people. He said that several state chapters of the party had protested the decision to of ANPP join the Government of National Unity (GNU), but that the national leadership would not budge.

The former head of state commended the Benue leadership of the party for their steadfastness in the face of inducement and urged the party members across the nation to participate in the local government elections.

The former head of state disclosed that it was only in Benue that lawyers offered free legal services to the ANPP candidates challenging their elections at the tribunal and that they have done very well, having won five cases so far, one House of Reps and four state House of Assembly seats.
In his remark earlier, Benue State chairman of the party, Chief Godwin Ukpoju, commended the unwavering attitude of the presidential candidate, saying he had proved to be reliable.

He described the solidarity visit of his group as a demonstration of its support for the retired general in his fight for justice and equity, adding that the state party would continue to lend its support in as much as Gen. Buhari does the right thing in the interest of democracy.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Buhari Organisation (TBO), Alhaji Sule Hama, said the April polls were the worst form of corruption the nation has ever experienced.

“Democracy is not a tea party,” he stated, while giving assurance that Gen. Buhari would remain committed to the cause of the people and democracy. He said that the Buhari group was encouraged by the personal show of solidarity and calls from several quarters to them to remain focus and consistent.