ABUJA—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.
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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