APC ‘big boys’ flood Buhari’s declaration

Top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including four governors, were at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Wednesday for the declaration of Muhammadu Buhari, to seek the party’s nomination for the 2015 presidential election.

This contrasts sharply with the declaration of his rival, Atiku Abubakar, which was not attended by any senior member of the party.

At Buhari’s declaration were Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos; Tanko Al-Makura, governor of Nasarawa; Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state; Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state; George Akume, former governor of Benue state; Olorunnnibe Mamora, former speaker of Lagos state.

But Kano governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is also seeking the party’s nomination, was absent.

Buhari expressed appreciation to those in attendance, promising to transform the nation if elected.

He said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had lived below expectation, lamenting the high rate of poverty and insecurity in the country.

“I pay tribute to Nigerians who are enduring all sorts of hardship and deprivations on a daily basis,” he said.

“Many are grappling with extreme poverty and barely eking out a living. Nearly all are in living in the fear of their lives and safety for themselves and their families due to insurgency by the godless movement called Boko Haram.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is everyone’s duty to resolve and help overcome these immense challenges. I will like to appreciate members of our armed forces under the new leadership. I will also like to commend the police for their efforts in confronting these challenges.

“I would like us to place on record our supporters up and down the country for their perseverance and resolve in face of the oppressive PDP government.

“This is an occasion to celebrate our effort and resolve to continue until victory is won. I humbly wish to present myself before you, before all Nigerians and before God, seeking to be elected as APC’s presidential candidate.”

He said unlike the ruling party that lacks democratic tenets, APC has put in place structures to ensure free and fair polls during the primary election.

“We have worked very hard in the last 18 months to put up structures from the polling units, to wards, local government, state and the center,” he said.

“We have tried to ensure all processes in our party formation to be transparent and credible. These structures will lead to free and fair polls. There is no point in holding elections if they are not free and fair.

“Interference in the form of rigging which PDP government has practised since 2003 is the worst form of injustice – denying people their right to opinions. Whether they like it or not, injustice cannot endure.

“Since 1999, PDP has presided over our country’s decline. Nigeria, in my experience, has never been so divided, so polarised by an unthinking government, hellbent on ruling and stealing forever whatever befalls the country. We in the APC are resolved to stop them in their tracks and rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of PDP.”

Since 2003 when Buhari has been contesting for the country’s highest office, he has been emerging second.

In 2003 and 2007, he contested under the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and lost to Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, respectively.

But under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011, lost to Goodluck Jonathan.