Buhari weeps for Nigeria, ends campaign -source NIgerian daily indepedent

Buhari at the International Conference Centre, Abuja ... on Wednesday. Photo: Nigeria Politics Online.

 Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday shed his hard man image and broke down in tears at the end of his campaign in Abuja, a surprise take for someone who launched the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) three decades ago and who, up to now, does not flinch in the face of daunting tasks.

He lost his voice and wept for Nigeria in the middle of a speech announcing his last run for President, if he fails to make it on Saturday on the platform of his new Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which would be the third time.

Buhari would be 71 in 2015 when the next election will hold.

Tears ran down the cheeks of the former military Head of State at a point when he was dedicating his life to ending the suffering of all the people of Nigeria.

“This campaign is the third and last one for me;  after it, I will not present myself again for election into the office of the President,” he declared at the International Conference Centre.

He struggled for a few minutes to regain his composure, but continued in an emotion-laden voice, at which point the hall fell into silence, with several  people in the audience – among them former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir el-Rufai – also moved to tears.

“I am in this solely for the love of my country, and the concern for its destiny, and the fate of its people. And that is why, despite the many disappointments along the way, I am still in the struggle and will remain in it to the end. 

“I have decided to dedicate the remainder of my life to fighting for the people of this country, until their right is restored. 

“I call upon the governments in power at all levels, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the security  agencies at all levels, to be fair and just to all parties and candidates in all elections for all offices.”