BUHARI WAS RIGHT TO LEAVE ANPPP – PARTY BOSS SAYS MAJORITY ENDORSED HIS EXIT

Buhari was right to leave ANPPP -Party boss
•Says majority endorsed his exit
From ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina
Thursday, March 04 , 2010
Buhari
The chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Katsina State, Dr. Yushau Armiyau, has faulted the assertion of his Bauchi State counterpart, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu, that the presidential candidate of the party in 2003 and 2007 elections, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), had committed suicide by dumping the party.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, the ANPP topshot said Alhaji Shehu is talking rubbish.

'He doesn't know what he is talking about because before Buhari left ANPP, he wrote all his supporters in all states of the federation asking for their opinion. 'The opinion of the majority of the people is that Buhari should leave ANPP. Everybody in Nigeria knows that the leadership in ANPP is rotten.

The leadership is selfish and does not augur well for the ANPP or the people of the country: 'For someone to come and say that Buhari did not listen to the advice of the people is rubbish. He (Shehu) doesn't know Buhari at all.'

The ANPP boss' views on this and other crucial issues are captured below.

Exerpts:
What is your take on the assertion of some ANPP leaders that Buhari's exit is good riddance to bad rubbish?

'Look, they can say what they like, but they know deep down in their hearts that ANPP can never be ANPP again after Buhari quit the party. They know that and people who know ANPP will certainly bear witness that ANPP is no longer the party it used to be.'

Your Bauchi State counterpart, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu, says Buhari is finished for dumping ANPP. Do share the same view?

'You see, that is his opinion and he is entitled to it. We live to see. It is just a matter of time before we know whether his statement holds water or not.'

Are you worried that Buhari may not realise his political ambition by jumping from one party to another?

People are so impatient. Buhari has left ANPP, I believe genuine people who really admire Buhari because of his principles will follow him wherever he goes. It is just a matter of time before we see whether his going to another party means anything to them.

Another topshot of the ANPP in Katsina has also tongue-lashed the General as a bad politician who does not believe in internal democracy and good contact with his people.

Some people can talk rubbish. If you know Buhari and how Buhari lives now-a- days, you will know that Buhari is in contact with the grassroots every single day.

'I have never been to Buhari's house without meeting so many people from all walks of life there to discuss with him or to ask for opinion or just to see him for that matter. 'The issue is that Buhari is in touch with a lot of his followers every single day. For someone to come and say that Buhari doesn't contact his people or listen to their advice that is rubbish. He doesn't know Buhari at all. Before Buhari left ANPP, he wrote all his supporters in all states of the federation asking for their opinion.

'The opinion of the majority of the people is that Buhari should leave ANPP. Every body in Nigeria knows that the leadership in ANPP is rotten. The leadership is selfish and does not augur well for the ANPP or the people of the country.

'The interest of the leadership is they first and their families, but that is not the spirit of leadership. How could anyone who is disciplined, with principle and who has the grassroots in mind bear with the stupid things that the leadership in ANPP are doing in Abuja.

'My advice to politicians, the grassroots and Nigerians is that it is up to them to bring real democracy to Nigeria. It is up to them to say no to politicians who use people to get into government positions only to exploit the masses and the country.

'In every part of the world where change comes, it is through the people. It is going to be the same thing in Nigeria. If we want change in the attitude of the leadership in Nigeria, we have to rise together to see that corrupt leaders are no longer welcomed in the business of Nigeria.

Are you still in ANPP?
I entered politics because of General Buhari. I believe in General Buhari. I know General Buhari since 1960 in (my) secondary school. He was our Head Boy and I can remember the quality of his leadership.

'After that, he went into the military and rose to the position of the President after going through various military and political offices. It is clear to Nigerians that, as a military and later as a civilian, Buhari has proved himself to be a person of integrity. That has attracted many people including me to Buhari and I am in politics because of him.

'It is true he has brought a letter that he has left the party. From that moment, I have left ANPP too but as a chairman of a party, I have to wait and hear where Buahri is going before I make any categorical statement.

I am no longer in ANPP from the day Buhari announced his exit but I am waiting as Buhari has said that he would talk to his followers in a week or two so that he can tell them where he is heading. I am waiting for that moment.