The human rights activist, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has formally accepted to serve as the official spokesperson of the re-election campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a lengthy statement issued, Wednesday, Mr Keyamo said he accept the offer for several reasons, including the fact that what matters in the present circumstance was not the age of the President but his integrity.
“There has also been much attempt to de-market the President using his age and health as pummelling tools, and as such raising the decibel in the clarion call for a young or younger President.
“Firstly, on the issues of age and health, it would be ungodly and outrageous for a mere mortal to assume the status of God Almighty to speculate on the longevity or strength of any human being. Even doctors have been proven wrong on so many occasions.
“It is a matter entirely in the hands of God. Our past presidents that died in office (Abacha and Yar’Adua) were in their prime. In fact, Abacha did not even show any sign of a failing health before he slumped and died.
“In Zimbabwe, the main opposition candidate for years, Morgan Tsvangirai, used the issue of age and health to campaign against President Mugabe, urging him to go and retire and rest.
“Yet, just a few weeks ago, Morgan Tsvangirai died at the age of 65 and Mugabe is still alive and kicking at the age of 94. Those are the mysterious ways of God Almighty.
“No human being should even use that as a campaign gimmick. That person would be courting the wrath of God Almighty.
“In addition, no one can argue that age has anything to do with the required integrity to be the President of a country.
“I also firmly believe that our value systems in politics and the society have been so damaged pre-2015, that a firm and experienced hand is needed to reset our collective psyche before we can set sail again.”
He said he was indeed consulted before the announcement.
“Upon the offer, I wholeheartedly and proudly accepted the challenge to do this for the good of my country and for posterity. For in President Buhari I have found an approximation of the lofty values I cherish and have fought for all my life.”
According to him, the ultimate aim of every struggle is not really to enthrone a perfect, flawless system.
“Only the starry-eyed, younger ones think such is possible. That is Utopia. Rather, the ultimate aim of the struggle is to enthrone a government (yes, even with the normal human flaws) that is focused, determined and fiercely opposed to the unscrupulous wheeler-dealers in the society, committed to protecting the interests of the down-trodden, the weak and vulnerable”, he added.
