13 January 2015
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He also stated that the APC government would end all kinds of impunity by public officers in the country.
Buhari made the pledge while commissioning his campaign headquarters which also coincided with the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC in Abuja yesterday.
We will secure Nigeria —Buhari
He said: “We have solemnly promised this nation that we are going to secure it against all threats, manage its resources efficiently and with demonstrable transparency, and then fix whatever is amiss in it. Under an APC government, no one will go to bed hungry, angry with the government or with the fear of insurgents or nocturnal visitors. We shall secure the government for the people and fix it. And, verily, we shall deliver on every of our promises.
“We intend to prosecute this campaign to win and we shall win.
We undertake to end the impunity of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a party that has proved clueless in every material particular. It has failed to address any of the important concerns of the people of this country.
“It has failed to deal squarely with the great security challenge that has faced this nation within these last five years. And it has remained touchy and impervious to all constructive criticism, and without concern for human life and for the suffering going on in the land.”
Recalling the warning he made to his supporters in the days preceding his presidential declaration against violence, Buhari cautioned that his supporters must not engage in violent campaign.
“As I said in my address to some of our supporters on September 30, 2014, I would like to repeat: With your support, I intend to offer myself for the position of the president of the republic on the platform of our great party. I intend to make a formal announcement on October 8, and I hope I can count on your continuing support and sacrifice.
“However, I would like to point out to you that, to be more meaningful, your support must extend beyond my person and always be available to the party and all those the party puts forward; because it is the party that is the platform. You must at all times remember that the APC is a party with several qualified people for each and all the positions that will be contested, including that of the president.
“It is the primaries that will determine who eventually represents the party in which capacity. If I get the party nomination, I expect you will redouble your effort and commitment until we clinch the presidency. But in the event that it happens to be one of the other aspirants who wins, I will expect you as good party men to extend to him your total support. We are a united party, and united we shall remain because our strength lies in our unity.”
“For this and for other reasons, I must warn all my supporters, volunteers and other well-wishers within the party or even out of it not to insult or be rude to any other aspirant or party leader on my behalf. My supporters must not engage in any kind of behavior or conduct that will tarnish the image of any leader or promote division and rancour within the ranks of the party.
‘’Whoever does that should know he or she is working for the enemy. At the same time, I would like to appeal and urge you to be good ambassadors of the opposition. As a body, the opposition is committed to the rule of law; and as members of the parties in the opposition, you must learn to do the same at all times,” he said.
Protect your votes
He however urged them to guard against rigging before, during and after the elections.
He said: “In particular, you must learn to be vigilant especially just before, during and immediately after elections, whether these are rigged or not, so that sponsored hoodlums are not made do not commit illegalities that are in the end blamed on you. Not only must you not take the law into your hands, no matter the level of provocation, you must be able to expose those planning to do so before they act.
“I know it is all too painful for you to see votes you cast being disregarded and votes illegally thumb printed being counted to rig out the choice that you have legitimately and conclusively made.
“And it is even more painful when you know that the road to remedy has been firmly shut in your face; for, you are always called on to accept a judgment whose justice you cannot see, whose logic is flawed and whose facts speak against itself.”
APC leadership
Meanwhile, he has commended the leadership of his party, his co-contestants for the party’s presidential ticket and all those who worked for his emergence as the presidential candidate.
“With your permission, Mr Chairman, I would first of all like to thank those leaders who toiled and gave their all to make the merger that gave birth to our party such a great success.
“Let me seize this opportunity to first pay special tribute to the leadership given by Chief Bisi Akande to the entire enterprise. It is no exaggeration to say that APC owes everything to the leadership given, the tact, wisdom and fairness displayed by Chief Akande. Next, I would like to recognise Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whose sacrifices, organisational skills and extensive political network did much to straighten and cement the blocks of the merger and then take APC to unprecedented heights of acceptance in important areas of the country.
“In addition, I want to thank each one of you who have accepted to serve on Presidential Campaign Council. I have no words to thank you enough. Needless to say, your choice to serve on this council is in recognition of your dedication and commitment to the ideals of our party, and it is in each case on merit. I would like to thank all the colleague-aspirants with whom I vied for the presidential ticket of our great party for everything— for all the sportsmanship displayed, for gallantry in their concession, and in the promptness with which party unity was affirmed and restored.
“We must congratulate ourselves for one of the cleanest and keenest-fought political contests this country has yet witnessed. Our ability to sink whatever differences of opinion we have shows the level of our political maturity, and our capacity for growth. And the experiences, approaches, talents and skills that we have individually brought to the common party pool have that much enriched and strengthened our party as it embarks on its way to victory.
“Finally, I would like to thank Professor Yemi Osinbajo for accepting to bring his rich repertoire of experience and expertise to enrich a ticket that will be leading this country in the next few months. And just as our primary election was an example for the nation, so must our conduct of the campaign also be exemplary.”
Inauguration of PCC
While inaugurating the Presidential campaign council, which had 80 members and 11 directors, Buhari tasked the members to give a sense of belonging to all stakeholders.
“Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure and privilege to formally inaugurate the 2015 National Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressive Congress, APC, under the leadership of His Excellency Chief Rotimi Amaechi, with the following suggested terms of references;
“To give a sense of participation and belonging to major stakeholders and engenders widespread support for the project. The body acts as a buffer between the campaign organization and the Presidential candidate and Vice Presidential candidate. The board identifies and resolves conflicts arising from the operation of the campaign organization.
Amaechi is a fighter
“Needless to add, Chief Amaechi is a fighter who has never failed in any assignment, and every member of the presidential campaign council has been chosen on account of experience and expertise and proven track record. With such a team and with the unprecedented acceptance that the APC enjoys in all parts of the country, the question is not whether the party will defeat the PDP. ”
The question is the nature of the landslide with which the clueless party will be sent packing. I promise you that the landslide will be unprecedented.
“And with suggested terms of reference as your guide, I urge you to put all your trust in God and the support of the people; and victory is yours. May God guide and bless the APC in its quest to
rescue Nigeria. And to us, it is a done deal. Less than two years ago, APC was just a dream. It became a promise. Then it became a reality; and, today, it is a miracle—a miracle waiting to happen. And it will happen.”
(South west), Senator Chirs Ngige( south east), Governor Tanko Almakura of Nassarawa State(north central), Governor Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto state( north west), Governor Kassin Shetinma of Borno State ( north east) while Governor Adams Oshomole of Edo State would coordinate the south south zone.
Amaechi, Lawal, Akande, Osinbajo assure victory for APC
In their respective remarks, the Director-General of the PCC and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Ameachi, the deputy national chairman, north, of the party, senator Shuibu Lawal who represented the national chairman, Chief John Oyegun, the first interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and Buhari’s running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo expressed optimism that APC would be victorious at the polls
Jonathan, PDP’s cup full—Ameachi
“We must agree that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP have had their cup filled by themselves and that the society wants them out. Fortunately for us, we have a wonderful candidate. There is a saying in Ikwere that when a woman is too fine, you say, see how ugly she is. Because you don’t have anything else to abuse the woman with. So, we have a wonderful candidate to sell. Please, join us to sell the candidate.
We will do everything legally possible to win the election— Senator Shuibu Lawal
“This is the first time a ruling party is jittery about the activity of the opposition. Why they become jittery is no reason other than we have made the right choice of candidate. A gentle man, an honest Nigerian, one who has paid his dues. A nigerian politician who enjoys infectious support by the common people of this country. Today, an organisation that will be responsible for the conduct of the campaigns of the APC is about to be inaugurated. Our responsibility once inaugurated, as explained by the Director-General is that we should do everything possible, whatever we will feel we can do to win the election, whatever we feel we can do to convince people to do what they could to win elections, not only members of the presidential campaign council, even the ordinary people on the street who are desirous of change because the wind of change has come. Whether you like it or not, you could see that people want change. The atmosphere is very stuffy. The fresh air never exited. What is expected of everyone of us is to ensure that we take every step, every possible, legal, every step that is in line with due process, every step that could be seen as peaceful means of effecting a change, let is take it and effect this change that Nigerians want.”
Buhari would be sworn in as president in May— Akande
“On behalf of the presidential campaign council, I am supposed to give a response but while listening to our presidential candidate, we can see that he has a dream and the dream is very bold and expansive. The dream suggests transparently, that by May 29, this year, he is going to become the President of Nigeria. On behalf of the presidential campaign council, we accept the nomination into this council.”
Wind of change will blow out Jonathan, PDP— Osinbajo
“We want to thank you for all the work, time and resources that you have contributed to this effort so far. The wind of change is blowing in our nation. No one has ever been able to stop the wind. No one can stop the wind. Come February 14, that wind will blow into the government in Nigeria General Mohammadu Buhari and the APC government and the same wind will blow out the present government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP. The wind of change will blow in prosperity and security for this country at large. All of these we desire and we believe that the Almighty God will do it and we pray that all of us will be alive to witness it. Amen”, he said in his vote of thanks.
Source vanguard
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