Former military head of state and All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential hopeful, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) yesterday picked his expression of interest and nomination forms for presidency on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead the party’s presidential primaries slated to hold in Abuja.

Buhari, who picked up the forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, in company with some key party members, said he felt sorry for himself to have coughed out the sum of N27.5 million to pay for the nomination form.

He also tactically complained about the high fee being charged by the party for the procurement of the form, adding that “if not because I am one of the party leaders, I would have complained about the amount that I have to pay. I always try to find myself sitting at the right hand side of the chairman.”

According to him, “it is a pity I couldn’t influence this amount to be trickled down, as it was done in the case of ladies that intended to participate in the election. I felt heavily sorry for myself, because I didn’t want to go and ask somebody to pay for my nomination. If you could recall, even the last one, I always try to pay for myself, at least for the nomination.”

Explaining how he was able to raise the money for the form despite being generally regarded as a financially struggling man, Buhari said: “Thank goodness I have a personal relationship with the manager of my bank in Kaduna, which I have called and told that the forms are coming, so I don’t know whether I’m in red, green or black, but all I know is that I must honor this, otherwise I will lose the nomination.

“So this morning, the bank manager in Abuja decided to bring the money and I asked one of my nephews to quickly bring the form. I sign and I got the papers which the national organising secretary received. I thank God that I have come to this stage. All speculation will now cease.”

In his short address, the national chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, told Buhari that the party decided to peg the fee for the forms at N27.5 million, saying that “it is to separate the men from the boys.”

On whether the party would agree to a consensus candidate, the APC national chairman said “even if there is consensus among the aspirants, we as a party will welcome it completely. But if there is no consensus, we are going to give you the cleanest and most transparent primaries.”

•Adapted from a Nigerian Tribune report. Photo shows Gen. Buhari.