Presidential Polls: Bad Tactical Moves, Over Confidence Cost Opposition Victory – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari claimed on Thursday that the opposition political parties’ defeat in the February 25 presidential elections was caused by a mix of overconfidence, complacency, and poor tactical decisions.

The President claimed that although the current government, the All Progressives Congress, APC, had made great efforts to win the recent election, the combined opposition had been overconfident.

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Speaking at his residence in the State House where he received the Progressive Governors Forum led by its Chairman, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, President Buhari said: “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 over confidence is creating more problems for the opposition than anyone else.  They are finding it hard to convince those who supported them from outside why they are unable to beat us.

“A combination of over confidence, 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?” 

President Buhari said, “A significant reason I congratulate Asiwaju on winning is that the opposition got support and false hope from outside and went on to create the impression that they will win, that they will defeat us. This was in response to a concern raised by Governor Bagudu, the leader of the Forum.  How could anyone be more wrong? He queried.

He urged the Progressive Governors to remain united and communicate openly with one another.

“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 program to meet regularly and to discuss issues and how to maintain the Party nationwide.” 

In a lengthy speech regarding his retirement plan, President Buhari stated that he planned to stay at home in Daura for six months before eventually relocating to Kaduna.

He commended Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for building the infrastructure that will improve life for him in retirement and for residents of the state, noting that Kano State Governor Muhammadu Buhari had also done the same.

The Chairman, Atiku 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. 

This being their first visit since the elections, they congratulated the President on the Party’s victory in the Presidential Polls, saying, “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. 

“History will remember you kindly.  Around the world, the election is being celebrated because of the turbulence in the region and in 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,” he added. 

Governors from Plateau, Imo, Kwara, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, Cross Rivers, Jigawa, Katsina, Ogun, and Nasarawa States were also present in addition to Kebbi.

As well as Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation, the Deputy Governors of Kano, Gombe, Borno, and Ebonyi were present.