Chidi Samuel|
Following his endorsement as candidate by 14,842,072 members of the All Progressives Congress across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari while accepting his nomination took a swipe at the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), asking what the party did for Nigerians for the 16 years it ruled the country.
The President asked Nigerians to think about how much the country earned in oil revenue between 1999 – 2015 and how the then ruling party wasted the resources.
The President said, “Fellow Nigerians, think how much PDP Governments earned between 1999 to 2015. Think what they did with it.
Infrastructure down! Security down! 18 local governments of Nigeria under control of a hostile army of insurgents. Reserves depleted! Bankruptcy around the corner.
“ What did they do with your money?”.
The President who paid special tribute to the party’s national leadership and its founding fathers and the National Presidential Convention Committee thanked all eligible members of the party who stepped down their ambition to allow him emerge as the party’s sole aspirant and now its candidate.
“I thank you all for your encouragement and support, and I will not disappoint the people of Nigeria,”he said.
President Buhari also told the gathering that his administration was tackling corruption head-on, and it is also rebuilding the economy and developing infrastructure, saying that the APC was proud of its achievements.
Earlier in te day, Ekiti State Governor elect, Dr Kayode Fayemi who was the chairman APC Presidential Primary Election Committee announced that Buhari received 14.8 million from APC members in a direct primary conducted across the country two weeks ago.
The result was later affirmed by no fewer than 7,000 delegates from across the federation and the FCT through a yes vote.
The delegates were made up of three from each Local Government Area elected at the party’s recent state Congresses aside the statutory delegates.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo who is the Chairman APC National Presidential Convention Committee, described Buhari as the antidote for all political locusts”.
“He is the insecticide for all political termites and the saviour of the oppressed and downtrodden, and the best president for the people.
“We are impressed by his exemplary honesty, sincerity and commitment to a greater Nigeria,”he said, adding that President Buhari has positively impacted on the lives of Nigerians in the last three and half years.
He called on Nigerians to vote for him again in 2019 to enable him consolidate on his achievements and take the country to greater heights.
Ajimobi said the convention had opened a new chapter in Nigeria’s political history and called on APC members not to succumb or be distracted by the negative propaganda of the opposition.
“We have a job to do, let us all join hands with President Buhari and roll up our sleeves for the task ahead,”he said.
Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the APC National Chairman formally presented President Buhari to the convention as the party’s 2019 presidential candidate, amidst cheers from delegates and other party members.
“I hereby formally present President Muhammadu Buhari as the candidate of our party for the 2019 presidential election to everyone here and to Nigerians, and by the grace of God, victory shall be ours,”he said.
Present at the convention, were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC Governors, National Assembly members and party delegates from the 36 states and FCT.
With NAN report.