Tag: Buhari’s re-election

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has urged the party’s state chairmen to work towards the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyegun, who spoke yesterday while inaugurating the state chairmen at APC National Secretariat in Abuja, urged them to regain the party’s lost glory.

He said: “Go and tell the people of the great achievements recorded by the APC government. Your government is on the right course. A firm foundation has been laid for the development of Nigeria. In spite of lean resources, APC has achieved much more in three years.”

Oyegun asked the chairmen to keep aside their grievances and disaffections to succeed in re-electing the President and ensuring the party’s success in 2019 elections.

The APC National Chairman named the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawali Shuaibu, to head the APC’s reconciliation efforts, following issues that arose from the ward, local government and state congresses.

He said: “There is serious and immediate need for reconciliation. You have seen states like Oyo, Cross River, Delta, Taraba and even Lagos. Don’t go back and say ‘we have won’. This is not a winner takes all situation. Political parties are not organised in that way. I have set up a team headed by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North) and he may have cause to invite some of the states in the next few days.

“It is something that must be done, and if possible, tidied up way before the National Convention so that we will have as rancour-free a convention as is possible for any political party.

“Let me emphasise once more, there is need for reconciliation, give and take, compromise and I hope those sitting here will have the courage and expanse of spirit  to embrace those we may think have technically lost out but are still important party members.”

Oyegun, who expressed gladness over the mix of old and new members, described the newly-sworn in state executives as a “second generation of a maturing APC”.

He added: “The new one will have the benefit of learning from the old and returning state executives.”

The APC National Chairman urged the new state party chairmen to be abreast of major achievements being recorded by the Buhari administration despite some conflicts within the party ranks, lean national resources and the inherited rot in the system.

“Yes we have issues today, yes we have problems today, yes in developmental terms, you cannot perform magic, but the certain assurance is that your government is on the right course. The certain assurance is that the firm foundation has been laid for a country that will now begin to grow and it can only accelerate.

“In spite of lean resources, your government has been able to achieve much more in three years than any of its predecessors. That is something you can talk about and defend with actual achievements. What is important is the basic foundation of this nation, which was totally destroyed by the past administration.”

Odigie-Oyegun highlighted Buhari’s achievements in agriculture, infrastructure, particularly rail)and power generation.

“Today, for many months, we have achieved steady electricity production of 7,000 megawatts. And by the time the other stations come on stream and the distribution system, which is being upgraded, is finally switched on, more and more of what we generate will start to reach our houses and the various industrial undertakings.”

Oyegun warned against complacency despite the fact that the APC remains the only viable party in the country.

“We must not as a party for any reason be complacent, but thank God we have some months to go and I can say with confidence that in this country, there is only one party and that is the APC. But don’t let that lure us into complacence. We must go out there and convince the people that this government is working and that this government is going to take us to the promise land.”

Chieftains and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State chapter, yesterday threw their weight behind the 2019 reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The leaders, in an open letter to the President, said treasury looters and other corrupt elements were desperately working against the second coming of Buhari to escape convictions and imprisonment.

The open letter was signed by over 20 APC leaders comprising a former Acting Governor of Bayelsa State, Nestor Binabo; former House of Representatives member, Dr. Stella  Dorgu; ex-Rep,  Indiamaowei Bolous; Senator Felix Otiotio; Maj. Andrew Oputa (retd.); Mr. Preye Aganaba; and acting Chairman, APC, Bayelsa, Joseph Fafi.

The leaders told the President that the citizens were wiser and more enlightened and would not be deceived by the antics of persons, who were angry that it was no longer business as usual.

They noted that their support for the President was based on his flawless character of integrity, commitment to prosperopus Nigeria and his love for the masses.

The party stalwarts expressed their convictions that Buhari’s reelection would enable him consolidate on his achievements for a prosperous Nigeria, adding that it would show corrupt elements the exit door and raise a new breed of patriotic leaders.

According to them, they decided to work assiduously to give Buhari a free ride to 2019 because he deserves it.

They said in the letter:  “We are aware that those who don’t want you back and those who spread hate against you are the very persons Nigerians rose to fight in 2015.

“They are treasury looters, corrupt elements who raped and sodomised this country for their selfish interest. They are afraid that your reelection will send them to jail and silence them politically.

“You have brought stability to the country. Nigeria has regained her lost glory in the comity of nations. With your style of leadership and your sterling qualities, the country is attracting massive foreign investments.

“You have laid the foundation for the growth and development of a real economy, not a cosmetic economy based on careless spending of stolen funds and reckless importation of products like rice, which could be locally produced.”

The leaders observed that from a collapsed and raped economy Buhari inherited from the previous administration, the President vigorously pursued a diversified economy with agriculture as a leading light.

They observed that the President’s insistence on self-sufficiency boosted the production of rice, cutting down foreign rice importation into the country, adding that all the economic indices are now looking postive.

They said the President lived up to his campaign promise on anti-corruption, emphasizing that despite all the campaigns of calumny against him, Buhari remained resolute in his desire and passion to rescue Nigeria from the grips of kleptomaniacs, economic buccaneers and vultures.

They added: “We have seen ongoing recovery of billions of dollars stolen from the country’s coffers by never-do-well and greedy politicians. We have also seen that multiple cases of corruption are ongoing in courts and they are yielding results as recently a former governor was sent to jail for stealing and abusing his office.

“We pray that more treasury looters should have their spaces carved out for them in prisons. Mr. President, you have decimated the Boko Haram insurgents. They are now confined to hidden places in Borno State and resorting only to attack soft targets. We knew what it used to be before you came. Boko Haram was allowed by an inept government to run riot.

“They freely attacked notable public national and international institutions; security formations and even annexed 17 local government areas as their territories. But now, there is no local government under their control.

“Boko Haram will soon become a study in our history books. We also know that you are doing a lot to end the armed herdsmen debacle, which we believe is a creation of your enemies to reduce your popularity.”

The APC stalwarts said the President showed commitment in the development of the Niger Delta region through supporting the establishment of local refineries; ensuring the take-off of the Maritime University and the Ogoni cleanup.

Addressing the President, they said: “We are also happy with the way you have handled the issues of the Niger Delta crisis. The maturity and understanding you displayed have brought the relative peace we now enjoy in the region. The region is also attracting more investments.

You are fulfilling most of your promises to the region. The Maritime University, Okerenkuko, Delta State has taken off. Ogoni cleanup is making progress and modular refineries and other investment in oil and gas such as the Oil and Gas Park have come on stream.

“Your decision to complete the East-West Road and link all the capital cities including Otuoke with railway is a welcome development. We know with the peace, more investments will come to the Niger Delta.

“Mr. President, we are totally behind your reelection. It will ensure you consolidate on your achievements for a prosperous Nigeria. It will show corrupt elements the exit door and raise a new breed of patriotic leaders. We have decided to work assiduously to give you a free ride to 2015 because you deserve it”.