Brace Up For Tougher Elections, Buhari Urges Nigerians

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.