Opposition can sack APC if we don’t agree on convention – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned the All Progressives Congress that the opposition will take over government in 2023 if the APC fails to resolve its internal wrangling and hold its convention.

He gave the warning during an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority monitored by our reporters last night.

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The ruling APC is yet to fix a definite date for its convention though the party had said it would be held in February, this year.

Buhari said: “We have a timeframe and we have to work because the four years circle is constitutional and can’t be interfered with by anybody. If the party can’t agree on the convention, then the opposition can take over.

“What did the PDP do? They thought the opposition couldn’t come together, but ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA came together and before PDP realized, they were thrown off, so they (APC members) can see.”

The president said he wanted the selection of those to occupy elective positions to come from the grassroots rather than anointment by political godfathers.

“I succeeded in trying to make my position understood in the sense that I said we should start from bottom, then upwards, starting from wards to polling units, local governments, states and then Abuja so that the party in all constituencies will know that they earn their positions coming up and therefore when they come to Abuja, they are likely to work together,” he said.

He said politicians with corruption cases should not hope to go scot-free by joining the APC.

“I don’t like to accept that joining our party will change our insistence on accountability, we are very serious so that people will aspire to lead by their performance and integrity, both professional and personal.

“But the problem is that we have to work within the system, even if you suspect individuals, unless there is evidence, there is no much you can do. It is the system that makes it possible for some people to be corrupt, but they can’t go scot-free as far as I am concerned.

“Imagine what the opposition could do to me if there is something in my record. A lot of confusion could have been caused, but luckily I think we try to occupy offices with integrity and that is the best thing for Nigerian leadership at all levels,” he said.

The president equally said that heavy trucks were still large in numbers on Nigerian roads because of non-completion of railway connectivity across the country.

“When we get the infrastructure right, particularly the rail, there won’t be heavy trucks on the roads. When we also ensure that there is power available, and there is food security, people would mind their businesses,” he said.

Buhari also said the nation’s epileptic power supply could be tackled through technology and provision of solar power alternatives and “a stoppage to vandalism on the nation’s electricity system.”