Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, laid
down a nine-point agenda to salvage Nigeria from what he termed the increasing
rot in all critical sectors of the polity.
Buhari’s public declaration for the 2015 presidential
election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, at the Eagle
Square, Abuja saw a massive turnout of supporters and associates including
several senior party officials and elected public office holders belonging to
the party.
Though party leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was absent,
the signpost of his inclination on the presidential ticket was seemingly
indicated by the heavy presence of his followers in the Southwest led by his
wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and many other senators from the Southwest.
BUHARI DECLARES—Arrival of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, during his
declaration of intent for All Progressives Congress, Apc, Presidential
candidate in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.
BUHARI DECLARES—Arrival of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, during his
declaration of intent for All Progressives Congress, Apc, Presidential
candidate in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.
Four APC governors including Governor Babatunde Fashola,
Lagos; Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers; Adams Oshiomhole, Edo and Tanko al-Makura of
Nasarawa were there. Among senior party officials at the venue were the
National Vice Chairman, Northeast, Pastor David Lawal and the National
Secretary Mai Mala.
Senate Minority Leader and former governor of Benue State,
Senator George Akume led the National Assembly delegation that included several
senators and members of the House of Representatives. Also remarkable by their
presence were the younger brother of late President Umaru Yar‘Adua, Col.
Abdulaziz Yar‘Adua and a former member of the House of Representatives and
immediate past board member of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Zilani Ibrahim.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s earlier declaration
was more serene but a source in his campaign said Atiku chose not to invite party
officials and governors in order not to compromise them.
Buhari’s declaration was an opportunity for several
governorship and senatorial aspirants from mostly the North hoping to ride on
the coattails of the former head of state to showcase their aspirations.
Tributes pour in for Buhari
The declaration ceremony was interspersed with tributes to
the former head of state and denunciations of the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, which was tagged “Poverty Development Party, PDP”, by one of the
masters of ceremony, Mr Dino Melaye, a former member of the House of
Representatives.
Among those who paid tribute to Buhari were former Minister
of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Senator Akume, former Governor Timipre Sylva
of Bayelsa State; Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Governor Amaechi of Rivers State and a youth leader, Jasper
Azutolam who made a parody of the promises and failures of the present
administration.
Praising Buhari’s commitment to the country, former Governor
Sylva said Buhari’s decision to contest was a sacrifice he was making for the
younger generation.
Chiding those who may take issues with the general’s age at
71, Sylva said:
“Buhari is not in this race for himself. He is in this race
because of us, the younger people. We are very happy that he has decided to
come out of retirement to help us stabilise this country so that you and I, the
younger ones can carry on with the development of this great nation.
And people even say General Buhari is too old. To them, I
will only quote the words of the former president of America, late President
Ronald Regan who said, “we are not going to make age an issue in this campaign
because we do not want to be accused of taking advantage of the inexperience of
our opponent”. Gen. Buhari brings experience to this campaign. He brings
integrity to this campaign.”
Paying tributes to General Buhari on behalf of Nigerian
youths, Imo State born Comrade Azutolam derided what he described as the many
failed promises of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. He said the president
promised to build refineries in every state but had not built even a palm
kernel oil refinery and recalled how as a student he enjoyed benefits including
drugs from the PTF (Petroleum (special) Task Force) headed by Buhari.
“Jonathan laid foundation for the second Niger bridge two
times, that is the road I pass to my village, there is no single brick being
laid in the name of second Niger bridge” Jasper said to the rapturous approval
of the audience.
Former Senate minority leader, Senator Mamora speaking on
behalf of the APC elders said Nigerians were determined to change the circumstances they were faced
with.
“Can we go on with the insecurity in the country? Can we go
on with youth unemployment in the country? Can we go on with the subversion of
the rule of law in the country? Can we go on with no power supply? Can we go on
with economic degradation and deprivation? Therefore, we need that change and
the time has come. Everyone of us is involved and we have to work to achieve
that success,” he said to the rapturous excitement of the audience.
Ogbeh, a former national chairman of the PDP who introduced
the aspirant said that Buhari was not the religious bigot that he has been
sometimes depicted to be by political rivals. Noting Buhari’s links with many Christians,
Ogbeh described those who made such claims as enemies of Nigeria who did not
mind dividing Nigeria along religious lines.
Buhari salutes Nigerians, states 9-point agenda
Buhari at the beginning of his speech was quick to return
tribute to Nigerians who he said were “enduring all sorts of hardships and
deprivations on a daily basis.”
Noting the reign of insecurity which he attributed to the
“godless Boko Haram” group, kidnappers among others, he said he had decided to
offer himself to salvage the country.
He said: “Since 1999, PDP has presided over our country’s
decline. Nigeria in my experience has never been so divided, so polarized by an
unthinking government hell bent on ruling
forever. We, in APC, are resolved to stop them in their tracks and
rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of PDP.”
He affirmed that he would do things differently from the PDP
presidents if elected, and outlined a nine-point agenda to achieve this,
namely:
*Protection of lives and property.
*Pursuing economic policies for shared prosperity and
immediate attention on youth employment.
*Quality education for development, modernity and social
mobility.
*Agricultural productivity for taking millions out of
poverty and ensuring food security.
*Reviving industries to generate employment and “make
things” not just to remain hawkers of other peoples’ goods.
*Developing solid minerals exploitation which will
substantially attract employment and revenue for government.
*Restoring honour and integrity to public service by keeping
the best and attracting the best.
*Tackling corruption which has become blatant and
widespread. The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption.
Nigeria is a country where stealing is not corruption.
*Respecting the constitutional separation of powers among
the executive, legislature and judiciary and respecting the rights of citizens.
Also present, yesterday, were former president of the
Nigerian Bar Association, Rotimi Akeredolu; Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Ajayi
Borofice, Senator Abdul Adam, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former Kano state Deputy
Governor, Magaji Abdullahi; Senator Ibrahim Musa, Senator Anthony Adeyemi,
Senator Sadiq Yar’Adua, initiator of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, Hajiya
Hadiza Bala Usman; former national women leader of the party, Sharon Ikeazor
and Prince Tony Momoh among others.
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