“I won’t compromise electoral process in 2023”- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday declared his resolve not favour any political gladiator during the 2023 general elections.

The president also voiced his determination to ensure that the electoral process was not compromised in any way during the elections.

He assured Nigerians free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

Buhari gave the assurance at the Presidential Villa when Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) Mr. Boss Mustapha, led his aides to present a birthday card to him to mark his 77th birthday anniversary.

The President asked politicians who intend to vie for positions in the next general elections in 2023 to begin to work hard to merit the trust of the people.

He reiterated that he would not allow anybody to bend the rules against the will of Nigerians.

The President charged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his political family, especially those who intend to contest elective positions to work hard in their own interest and the interest of the party, saying whoever “wants to contest must work hard” as he would not condone the use of his name and office to canvass for support.

He said that he would employ the services of security agencies to ensure that the coming elections in the country were conducted according to the rules.

He noted that no office seeker would be allowed to use the influence his own office or the resources of his state to foist himself on the people.

Buhari said, “What I want to promise Nigerians is that I will work very hard on free and fair elections. All those that are going to succeed in the National Assembly and the Presidency have to work very hard because I will make sure, using the law enforcement agencies, that elections are free and fair.

“Nobody will use his office or resources to force himself on his constituents.”

On corrupt and economic saboteurs, Buhari said that he had learnt to follow the democratic system to tackle the menace.

Democratic norms, he said, are far different from the military system.

He said, “I have learned in a hard way. When I came in uniform, I collected (arrested) those who were leading, (leaders) took them to Kirikiri and told them that they were guilty until they could prove themselves innocent.

“I put committees, based on geopolitical zones, to investigate them. Those that were found to have lived beyond their means, the balance (of what they stole) was taken and given to the state.

“But I myself was arrested, detained and those we arrested were given back what they had stolen. However, under this system, which is supposed to be more accountable, it is too slow for my liking, but I have to follow it.

“I think I’ve come to accept the realities of leadership in Nigeria; you can only try. It’s a terrific country. No matter what you do, there are people who are on daily basis looking for your fault and go to the press with it. You have to learn to live by that.”

President Buhari admonished Nigerians to learn to be patient with the government.

According to him, “patience and patriotism that is what we see as the rule, nobody can have his own way. We have to accept that as Nigerians we will keep on building.

“God has blessed us with land, people and other resources, we must learn the patience to exploit them and leave something for the future generations.”

Asked how he felt as he clocked 77 years, Buhari noted that “at 77, I feel well.”

“If you have played Tombola before, it’s about crutches. Many of those who are 77 years old are on crutches, but \am on my two feet,” the President said.