LOKOJA — Former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari has predicted that next year’s general elections will be tough and urged party members to collect their voters’ card and hold on to them.
He called on Nigerians not to vote in those he described as treasury looters, saying provision of free amenities was possible. He rolled out the party’s package for Nigerians, promised improved infrastructure, water, electricity and improved education system for Nigerians, under the APC.
According to him: “The next five months will be very tough, because we want to take over the government, from councillorship to presidency.
“Next election is going to be different and next year is going to be tough because APC is ready for change in Nigeria. We will stop corruption; no more will anybody put government money into private pockets.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives congress, APC, has said “Nigeria is terribly asleep and is having a serious nightmare,” and will continue to experience such as long as the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, remained at the helms of affairs.
National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, who stated this, yesterday, at Lokoja Township Stadium, Kogi State, during the formal reception of Kogi PDP decampees into the party, said “PDP is giving Nigeria a ‘bad dream.’”
The former governor of Edo State, however, said there “is hope for Nigeria if Nigerians wake up fast and vote for APC which is becoming the fastest growing party in Nigeria, and has come to remedy the ills meted on the country.”
The programme was supported in attendance by prominent members of the party, including General Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; APC Deputy National Chairman, Senator Lawan Shuaibu; National Deputy Chairman, South West, Engr. Segun Oni; former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu; former Minister of State for Petroleum, Shuaib Abdullahi; APC National Treasurer, Bala Muhammed and National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izuanaso, amongst others.
The national chairman formally handed the party’s flag to the leaders of the decampees, Chief Clarence Olafemi and the group loyal to a former PDP governorship aspirant, Jibril Isah led by a former council chairman of Dekina Local Government, Ikana Okolo.
Oyegun commended the decamping PDP members, saying the situation of Kogi State called for men of steel.
“APC is growing so fast. Many of you know I have been here three times in the past and I tell you this is the greatest crowd I have seen.
“The PDP is finished anyway. Have we forgotten the N20 billion? Have we forgotten the N225 million armoured tank? Can we forget the $9.6 million? Can we forget Boko Haram? And, look at it here in Kogi State, look at the very stadium we are standing, where the government cannot fix its roofs.
“But, I want to tell you that as soon as APC comes into power, we will change all these for the better. Teachers are not paid, workers are not paid and it’s a challenge for you to ensure that they do not rise again. It is not an easy job, but we shall not make the mistake we made in the past. I want to assure you that APC is the only party with vision, dependable and willing to do the needful.”
Another presidential aspirant of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on his part, urged Nigerians to protect their votes, saying most elections were rigged as a result of voters not protecting their votes.
Those who decamped from the PDP to APC in the state are former acting governor, Clarence Olafemi, former speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdulahi Bello; former state PDP chairman, Chief John Odawun; former council chairman of Dekina LGA, Ikani Okolo, and Nigeria’s former ambassador to Botswana, Isaac Onuh, among others.
Source: Vanguard
