Don’t commit suicide, Sambo tells Buhari

Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Thursday advised the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, against committing suicide by his plan to personally lead the war against Boko Haram if elected president.

Sambo gave the advice at the PDP Presidential Rally in Yola, Adamawa state.

The vice-president said his advice was against the backdrop of the advice given to Buhari by his presidential running mate to personally lead the war against Boko Haram if elected President in next month’s presidential election.

Sambo urged Buhari to ignore the advice from the APC vice presidential candidate, adding that any attempt by Buhari to lead such war would amount to a “suicide mission” in view of his age.

According to him, the APC should allow President Goodluck Jonathan to continue to adopt “a more scientific and modern” warfare in tackling the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“I want to seize this opportunity to draw our attention to a publication, last week, credited to the vice-presidential candidate of the APC that their plan is to ask their presidential candidate, retired Maj-Gen. Buhari, to lead the war against Boko Haram.

“I want to ask you a question, a retired 73-year-old General – can he run? No!

“Okay, let’s assume that he can run; how many metres can he run before he falls? The training of a General that retired in 1985 is it the same training that can address a modern war? No!

“Now we are fighting war with drones, with new ideas that our President, a PhD holder, a scientist that is using (his knowledge) to address the security issues of this country.

He described the plan as a suicidal proposal, asking “will he (Buhari) go with a suicidal proposal?”

The vice-president urged the electorate to support Jonathan, saying Jonathan was the answer to the nation’s security and the answer to its development.

Sambo reassured that the PDP-led administration would continue to do its best in addressing the nation’s security challenges across the country.

On the developmental efforts of administration, Sambo said that the President had earmarked funds for the completion of two hydro-power dams in Adamawa.

“I want to give you this good news that Mr President has approved the development and completion of Kiri Dam and Jada Dam.

“All these Dams will be provided with hydro-electricity power and an irrigation scheme, with which we are developing economic corridors in Adamawa state.

“In addition to that, in the transport sector, I have good news for you. Mr President has approved the dredging of River Benue. Very soon, we will have a river port and ships and boats from different parts of the world will be here in Yola.”

Sambo then urged the electorate in the state to ensure that they obtain their PVCs to enable them to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan and all other PDP candidates in the Feb. 14 and 28 general elections.

In his remarks, a chieftain of the PDP and a former minister, Jibril Aminu, said Adamawa people had resolved to vote for Jonathan/Sambo ticket as well as other PDP candidates in the state during the February elections.