President Muhammadu Buhari said that the opposition failed to oust the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2023 polls due to a combination of factors, including overconfidence, complacency and bad tactical moves.
The president stated this yesterday at his residence in the state house, Abuja, during the visit of the Progressive Governors’ Forum led by its chairman and governor of Kebbi State, Mr. Atiku Bagudu.
“They were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. Our party blended confidence with caution, we worked hard and won.
“Now, their overconfidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else. They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from the outside why they are unable to beat us.
“A combination of overconfidence, complacency and bad tactical moves made them lose, plain and clear. This has created more problems in their camp. Why did they fail to remove us?” he said.
Buhari said the opposition got support and false hope from outside and went on to create the impression that they will defeat the ruling party.
The president charged the governors to stick together and openly address issues among themselves.
“Try and keep solving problems. Be courageous to discuss them openly between yourselves. This is the best way to survive politically in Nigeria,” said the president, urging that “you (Governors) have a programme to meet regularly and to discuss issues and how to maintain the party nationwide.”
He also revealed that he intended to be at home in Daura for six months before moving eventually to Kaduna.
Earlier in his remarks, Bagudu said the visit was ostensibly to say “Happy Sallah” to the president and to thank him for the leadership he had given to the party and the nation.
“History will remember you kindly. Around the world, the election is being celebrated because of the turbulence in the region and the developing world, all courtesy of your leadership.
“We won by sheer hard work, the same thing you have always encouraged us to do. We thank you immensely for everything.
“Congratulations, your party won the presidency, a majority in the senate and for being the leading party in the house of representatives. These successes would not have happened without your support,” he added
The other governors in attendance were Kebbi were Messrs Simon Lalong (Plateau), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Mohammed Abubakar (Jigawa), Bello Masari (Katsina), Adedapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa).
Also in attendance were the deputy governors of Kano, Gombe, Borno and Ebonyi states, Messrs Nasir Gawuna, Umar Kadafur Kelechi Igwe as well as the secretary to the government of the federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
Recall that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the APC presidential candidate, Mr. Bola Tinubu, as the winner of the February 25 election.
He defeated 17 other candidates, including Messrs Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
