All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan should consider his deficiencies as his personal failure and that of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said it amounted to an error for the President to generalise the shortcomings as generational failure.
Dr. Jonathan at the opening of his campaign last Thursday that his generation had failed Nigeria and that he would address the youth.
Tinubu said the APC would sweep the “recklessness and filth” of the PDP next month at the general elections.
He called on “Nigerians to rise to the challenge of voting the ruling PDP out of office.”
Tinubu spoke at the campaign inauguration of the party’s governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambawal, who is the House of Representatives Speaker.
He said: “If the president doesn’t know the history and responsibilities of his office, he should quit the office and go back home.”
Two serving governors and three of their former colleagues were in Sokoto, the seat of the Caliphate to add glamour to the campaign of Tambawal and his running mate, Ahmed Aliyu.
According to Tinubu, “the APC is the cure to the disease affecting the country,” noting that the party was fast growing in the Northwest and other parts of the country.
The former governor went on: “Our great party (APC) is growing larger and larger by the day throughout Nigeria and especially in the North West.”
Describing Tambuwal as a great politician, Tinubu maintained that APC and Nigerians were proud of his sense of resilience and commitment to the progress of the nation’s democracy.
His words: “This is a great day for a great campaign of a great man. We are launching the spirit of change and development in Sokoto for all APC candidates in the state.”
He described the APC as a baby of yesterday which has grown to political maturity.
“We will not let it die prematurely but to nurture it to the benefit of Nigerians who are clamouring for change. APC is the cure for the headache we are having right now”, he pointed out.
Asiwaju, urged Nigerians to appreciate Tambuwal as a loyal and very committed individual to the mission and progress of the country.
He urged the people of Sokoto to overwhelmingly support the course for change for continued transformation.
Presenting the Speaker before a crowd of party faithful, who thronged the Sokoto Trade Fair venue of the event on behalf of the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, former interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, described Nigeria as a great country with great people of great time.
Akande said: “Wamakko is a great man who is to be succeeded by a greatman (Tambuwal). On behalf of the National Chairman of the party, I have the privilege and honour to present to you Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as APC gubernatorial candidate at this campaign flag off ceremony.”
In his remarks, Tambuwal promised to consolidate the works of his predecessor if given the mandate. He explained that he would run a transparent government based on the leadership principles of the founding fathers of the Sokoto Caliphate.
He condemned the calls for an interim government, describing such as unconstitutional.
The Speaker said: “We and the generality of Nigerians are not disposed to the unconstitutional option. We are ready for free, fair and credible elections that will provide an enabling environment for the benefit of our people and dear nation.
“APC shall emerge under free and fair contest for the national leadership which will In sha Allah be headed by a fearless, committed, credible and disciplined leader in Buhari.”
Earlier, APC Northwest zonal Vice Chairman, Inuwa Abdulkadir, said the era of backwardness would soon be history, urging Nigerians to use their votes as necessary weapons to install a progressive government.
He disclosed that the APC has in the last few weeks been experiencing the influx of new members from the PDP.
“This development is apt and will help our mission and vision for the country in fighting insurgency, insecurity among other grey areas of challenges when we get the mandate to form government at the centre”, he said.
Also speaking, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, noted that APC was admiring good governance in line with its principles of giving Nigeria and Nigerians the desirable leadership.
“We are confident that Tambuwal will embrace the qualities of Wamakko and ensure result-oriented drive for the people of the state”, he said.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State had earlier described Tambuwal as a committed agent of change, who stood his grounds against the antics of the ruling PDP to shortchange Nigerians.
Oshiohmole said: “Edo people are proud of your strength and vision for a new Nigeria. They want Sokoto people to unite and vote Wamakko and Tambuwal.”
Former Governors Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara) and Muhammadu Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), spoke in the same vein. They said Nigerians should support and embrace APC as a formidable political tool for change, adding that” APC is now the choice of an average Nigerian and this is not the first time an opposition party in Sokoto under Wamakko is winning elections.
“The choice of Tambuwal is for a responsive continuity and spread of development as does his outgoing leader (Wamakko),” they said.
The duo noted that the country was in a quagmire following what they described as “absolute deterioration and insecurity.”
They said: “Wamakko has succeeded twice in shaming his predecessor and it will again repeat itself.
“We are urging you to use the power of your votes to fight PDP out of office. PDP is a cirlce for rigging elections.”
They urged the electorate to protect their votes.
Describing the strength and unity upon which APC was built to rescue Nigerians, the state Acting Chairman, Alhaji Usman Damadamin Isa, said the party was for all Nigerians and devoid of religious, ethnic and personal sentiments.
“I therefore call on the people of Sokoto state and Nigerians to turnout enmasse and cast their votes for the party. We should use our votes to sweep off PDP”, he advised.
Those who honoured Tambuwal at the campaign launch include: former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Usman Bayero Nafada, Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Kawu Sumaila and other party leaders.