While addressing members of the Nigerian community in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he also vowed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would “kill” corruption in the country, who recalled his times as state governor, petroleum minister and military head of state, also explained that he repeatedly contested the presidency because of his belief in the practicability of conducting free and fair election in the country.
“How I wish I became head of state when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.
“What brought me there, I think, mainly is because I love this country. I was in the warfront for 30 months during the civil war. I lost a lot of people loyal to me, I lost relatives. A lot of Nigerians did too.
“We lost about two million Nigerians just to keep Nigeria one. So, nobody should come now and tell us rubbish. We are going to remain one country. God has given us another opportunity to reorganise this country. Those who work hard, the society will pay them back,” he said.
He said he had been told that there were 83 Nigerians in South African jails, disclosing that he would discuss the matter with President Jacob Zuma during his planned visit to Nigeria in the near future.
“I refused to speak from this draft speech because I wanted to speak to you from the bottom of my heart. Please, keep Nigeria’s pride close to your heart, make sure you behave yourselves. If you find yourselves here, obey their law. Where you don’t obey their law, you will have to bear the consequences.
“I hope our ambassador will send a comprehensive report about the court cases, about those who lost properties during the disturbances. Also I will attempt to ask him (Zuma) about our $9.7 million which was not correctly transferred,” he added.
The president regretted that a lot of people no longer travelled to their villages in the south because of the fear of being kidnapped, while assuring that the APC government would address the insecurity situation and manage the country well.
“Being Nigerians, I can assure you that the three cardinal points of securing Nigeria, efficiently managing it by trying to build the economy again, generate employment and then deal with corruption, God willing, we are going to do them and we will succeed,” he reiterated.
