BUHARI INAUGURATES APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL
President Muhammadu Buhari on friday unveiled the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and Action Plan of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential
candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The president who is the chairman of the PCC pledged to be at the forefront of electing the former Lagos state governor and his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima a former governor of Borno state to succeed him as president and vice president in the 2023 general elections.
He declared that despite the challenges of corruption, low revenue and insecurity, the APC under his administration “managed to make Nigeria stable,” laying a solid foundation for progressive growth.
He said that electing Tinubu would consolidate the achievements of his administration saying that the presidential candidate has the capacity, visionary leadership and track record to do more.
He described the APC candidate as well known for his capacity and can-do spirit.
“He stands tall in his track records as a democrat, a champion of the rule of law, a man at home in every part of our country, and a truly visionary leader. All you need to do is think of Lagos in 1999 and 2022”
He said that the cost of losing the gains the country has made is much more than the need to stop the haemorrhage that led to their coming together nearly nine years ago.
The president charged every member to put in all their efforts during the next four and half months of campaign to ensure the party record a resounding victory in all the elections nationwide adding that the future of this country is safer in their hands.
Highlighting the achievements of the APC-led administration, he noted that under his watch, Nigeria’s security personnel are better equipped and motivated.
He said that the exploits of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the battlefield have led to massive and successive operational successes in the quest to secure the country and provide adequate protection for lives and property of all citizens.
”The efforts of our men and women in the armed forces over the last years are beginning to yield positive outcomes. We are gradually taking back our country from foreign-inspired bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists in the northeast and northwest and other parts of our country.
”We are equally combating separatists, oil thieves and bandits in the southeast and south-south of the country
He stated that his administration will remain committed to progressively eliminating all flashpoints of insecurity nationwide and would triumph over the enemies of the country in whatever forms and shapes they appear.
President Buhari also scored his administration high on infrastructure, saying ”our commitment to stimulate our nation’s economy through massive infrastructural development has not been misplaced.”
”We are already seeing the unprecedented infrastructure across the country. The real impacts of our efforts will be felt more as the various projects are completed and put to use in the coming days.”
The President who described the APC Presidential candidate as ”the Jagaban, my friend, partner, and brother,” said the occasion was important to him for two reasons.
”First, it is significant to note that this unveiling is the third by our party. I have had the opportunity of unveiling two Action Plans. I had the privilege of presenting our party’s manifesto of change in 2014.
”It was a manifesto that signposted our collective desire to arrest the directionless journey our country was headed under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The second time was in 2018 when I unveiled the Next Level agenda of our government.
”The second reason this occasion is significant is that we are having our first transition within our party where I am in the last year of my two-term mandate, and we have a new candidate to lead our party into another presidential election.
”The events preceding our presidential primaries and the conduct of the primaries were important milestones in the development of our internal democracy and party politics.
”I must congratulate the leadership of our party, other stakeholders, and the entire party members for the success of the exercise. We can say with confidence, that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is charting a steady course in our journey towards enthroning lasting democratic culture in our body polity.”
The President also thanked party officials in the National Executive Council, the Zonal, State, Senatorial, Local Government, and Ward executives for their unalloyed support to his administration and the great efforts and outstanding commitment to the cause of the party and democracy.
He urged them to be mindful of the importance of building a strong and purposeful political party, recounting that the project of pulling ”Nigeria back from the precipice in 2015 was made possible by putting together a formidable party peopled by many who have made a vow to work for a Nigeria we all can be proud of.”
He charged party members to uphold the supremacy of the party, operating within the guidelines as stipulated in their constitution.
”It is worth reiterating the fact that we are stronger today only because we continue to support the Party.
”For us to develop an enduring democracy in our country, we must first subscribe to the supremacy of our Political Party.
”We must subject ourselves to the rules and learn to operate within the guidelines as stipulated in our Party’s Constitution.”
The president also commended the maturity and sportsmanship of other contestants and challenged party members to see themselves as ambassadors of progressive principles and exemplify the best in their actions and words.
Speaking, Asiwaju Tifnubu said he is seeking to become the next president of the country because he knows the way.
“My experience and past performance have shown that it will be through collective effort and national endeavour that we join hands, cross the divides and achieve our vision. I ask you to join Senator Shettima and I on this journey.”
On his Agenda for Renewed Hope for Nigeria, he said that standing on the foundation of the present administration, he will build a Nigeria where sufficient jobs with decent wages will create a better life.
He said that his administration would export more and import less in order to earn more foreign exchange and strengthen the naira.
”We will deliver food security and affordability by continuing to prioritise agriculture and assist farmers and other players in the agricultural value chain through the enlightened agricultural policy that promotes productivity and guarantees robust income.
”We will modernise and expand public infrastructure to stimulate economic growth at an optimal rate. Generate, transmit and distribute affordable electricity to give our people the necessary power to drive their businesses and brighten their homes.
”Our national economy will grow, succeed and be respected. We will embolden and support young people and women to participate more in politics and governance, harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment, tourism, sports to build today, for the Nigeria of tomorrow.”
Tinubu promised that his administration will also make basic healthcare, education, and housing accessible and affordable for all, provide economic opportunities to people living with disability, the poor and vulnerable, saying ”we will build a Nigeria where no parent is compelled to send a child to bed hungry.”
He declared that he will establish a bold and assertive policy that will create a strong and adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes from the face of our nation.
National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, said that the APC is set for self-succession in 2023 presidential and general elections, buoyed by ”the dint of hardwork, perseverance, discipline, good governance and far-reaching policies of the Buhari administration which has pulled back Nigeria from the brink and stabilised the country.”
