Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Former Nigerian Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) on Thursday paid N27.5 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the Nigerian presidency under the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2015 general elections.
Buhari who formally declared his intention to contest the presidency on Wednesday however complained that the cost of the nomination form was too high.
The former Head of State was accompanied to the APC National Secretariat, Abuja by some bigwigs of the party including former minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir El- Rufai and Timipre Sylva, the former Governor of Bayelsa State who handed over the cheque for the purchase of the forms to officials of the party.
They were received by officials of the party led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the National Chairman of APC.
Buhari regretted that he could not influence the party to reduce the price of the forms to especially take care of the disabled, women and other disadvantaged groups who may want to participate in the process.
“It’s a pity I couldn’t influence this amount to be put down as in the case of ladies and the disable that intend to participate. I always look left and right in our meetings but I could not read sympathy, so I kept my trap.
The former Head of State said he felt sorry for himself because he wanted to pay for the forms himself as he has always done and has had to put his banker on notice.
“N27 million is a big sum, thankfully I have personal relationship with the manager of my bank in Kaduna and I told him that very soon the forms are coming, so, whether I am on red, or green or even black please honour it otherwise I may lose the nomination.
However, Chief Oyegun, told Buhari and his entourage that the party decided to make the nomination fees high to separate the men from the boys.
He added that the party was aware that Buhari has those who believe in him enough to support him to buy the forms.