.Oshiomhole presents flags to A‘Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Cross River candidates
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday assured Nigerians that his administration under the All Progressives Congress (APC) would reinforce the progress it made in his three-point agenda of improved economy, enhanced security and the anti-corruption crusade if re-elected in 2019.
The president stated this at the South-South presidential rally held at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, yesterday in front of supporters drawn from South-South states.
Buhari said his administration had made significant impact in the fight against Boko Haram, noting that the terrorist group that once controlled 17 local government areas in Borno and Yobe states no longer has any area under its control.
The President said: “What we see now are youths who are indoctrinated on the acts of suicide bombing to go to churches, motor parks, mosques and other public places to blow up themselves but we are determined to route them out too.”
He stated that his administration was making progress in food security through the encouragement of farmers to grow food for self-sufficiency, stating that he had ensured the sustainability of democracy by ensuring the rule of law in all his dealings, especially in the fight against corruption.
The president also maintained that his administration’s effective implementation of the Single Treasury Account had ensured sanity and accountability in the management of funds accruing to government purse.
He also said: “Our population is over 60 per cent of young people who are below 30 years of age and we are determined to create jobs through agriculture to ensure food security. Already, we are encouraging the farmers with grants and other incentives and have stopped the importation of rice.
“No Nigerian will regret voting us into office because we will ensure that our promises of better security, enhanced economy and fighting corruption continue after our re-election.”
Buhari also expressed gratitude to the organisers of the rally to kick-start his campaign, urging Nigerians to trust him with their mandate.
Also, the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who had earlier presented flags to the party’s governorship candidates in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere; his Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Tonye Cole; Delta State, Mr. Great Ogboru, and Cross River State, Senator John Owan Eno, reassured the President on the support of all Nigerians.
Oshiomhole said: “The issue of character and integrity will form part of our campaign against the PDP. They are busy throwing muds at you and Nigerians and we are laughing at them. While you can travel and speak anywhere in the world, the PDP candidate can’t do the same.
“The PDP candidate has already put Nigerians on notice that he will sell the NNPC to the detriment of the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta.”
Also, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said the 2019 presidential election would be a straight fight between integrity and others.
He said: “Buhari will win the 2019 presidential election based on performance.
I advise PDP controlled states to surrender to the President ahead of the 2019 elections.”
On his part, the National Leader of APC, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, who said they were in Uyo to endorse the continuity of hope and development, stressed that Nigeria had been delivered from ineptitude and lazy government in 2015.
He said: “We will re-elect Buhari and APC government that will give us more hope. Sixteen years of corrupt PDP will never come back, APC stands for hope for a better Nigeria.
“They gave us 16 years of darkness, if only they concentrated on electricity without which there will be no development and industrialisation . No we are not going on reverse in Nigeria, it is forward ever.” Tinubu eulogised Akpabio’s administration for performing well during his tenure, stressing that happiness had been frozen since his departure and urged Akwa Ibom people to vote massively for Nsima Ekere to return the state to the part of people-oriented development.
