APC ‘big boys’ flood Buhari’s declaration
Top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including four governors, were at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Wednesday for the declaration of Muhammadu Buhari, to seek the party’s nomination for the 2015 presidential election.
This contrasts sharply with the declaration of his rival, Atiku Abubakar, which was not attended by any senior member of the party.
At Buhari’s declaration were Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos; Tanko Al-Makura, governor of Nasarawa; Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state; Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state; George Akume, former governor of Benue state; Olorunnnibe Mamora, former speaker of Lagos state.
But Kano governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is also seeking the party’s nomination, was absent.
Buhari expressed appreciation to those in attendance, promising to transform the nation if elected.
He said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had lived below expectation, lamenting the high rate of poverty and insecurity in the country.
“I pay tribute to Nigerians who are enduring all sorts of hardship and deprivations on a daily basis,” he said.
“Many are grappling with extreme poverty and barely eking out a living. Nearly all are in living in the fear of their lives and safety for themselves and their families due to insurgency by the godless movement called Boko Haram.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is everyone’s duty to resolve and help overcome these immense challenges. I will like to appreciate members of our armed forces under the new leadership. I will also like to commend the police for their efforts in confronting these challenges.
“I would like us to place on record our supporters up and down the country for their perseverance and resolve in face of the oppressive PDP government.
“This is an occasion to celebrate our effort and resolve to continue until victory is won. I humbly wish to present myself before you, before all Nigerians and before God, seeking to be elected as APC’s presidential candidate.”
He said unlike the ruling party that lacks democratic tenets, APC has put in place structures to ensure free and fair polls during the primary election.
“We have worked very hard in the last 18 months to put up structures from the polling units, to wards, local government, state and the center,” he said.
“We have tried to ensure all processes in our party formation to be transparent and credible. These structures will lead to free and fair polls. There is no point in holding elections if they are not free and fair.
“Interference in the form of rigging which PDP government has practised since 2003 is the worst form of injustice – denying people their right to opinions. Whether they like it or not, injustice cannot endure.
“Since 1999, PDP has presided over our country’s decline. Nigeria, in my experience, has never been so divided, so polarised by an unthinking government, hellbent on ruling and stealing forever whatever befalls the country. We in the APC are resolved to stop them in their tracks and rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of PDP.”
Since 2003 when Buhari has been contesting for the country’s highest office, he has been emerging second.
In 2003 and 2007, he contested under the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and lost to Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, respectively.
But under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011, lost to Goodluck Jonathan.
Brilliant speech my dear General. I know very well that you are seeing what many Nigerians are not seeing. I will not comment beyond this point, but I know that Nigeria needs a strong personality to fight the woes bedeviling us by the day – Serious corruption in high places!
Pray, what was ‘brilliant’ about the Generals rant and mere platitudes? Can any self respecting citizen truly call this government ‘repressive’? Does ‘free and fair’ election only mean a victorious outing at the polls for the General? Have the APC controlled states fared materially better than the National average on good governance and corruption? We heard no concrete plans on the details of his road map for the country…so just what exactly was great about this speech?
Rabbi, it’s obvious you are one of those who do not wish this country well, and who wants us to remain perpetually in bondage that we have been since 1999. You are very much in support of your leader’s belief that public officers should continue to steal as stealing is not corruption, which is ravaging the country. Well, I have one bad news for you……God is taking over the affairs of this nation through this God-sent General. And those of you that wish the country remain crawling in this manner shall not live to eat the good of the land when God finally sets this country free from the clause of roguish PDP. Amin loruko Jesu.
GMB.God always raised a leader/prophet to hearken to d voice of His people on any particular issue and used same leader or prophet to deliver them.GMB the voice of nigerians were that “THE CORRUPTION UNDER 16YRS OF PDP IS TOO MUCH WHICH HAS BECOME A DAILY ROUTINE UNDER JONATHAN” and u are that God annointed candidate for this crucial assignment,as a pastor of MFM church I will always pray for u even raise intercessors for u. I wish u best of luck on this heavenly sealed assignment.
That God has ordained the General to save Nigeria from brigands that currently govern us is quite obvious even to the blind. Nigeria has become a disgrace with shameless rulers that steal Nigeria blind since the clueless and shoeless one says this is no corruption!