Enugu, Awka unprecedented crowd, welcome Buhari Source : The Nation •Why I’m in this race, by ex-Head of State •Okorocha, Ngige, Onu, others canvass votes for party •APC observes minute silence for Maiduguri blast victims •Laments Nigeria has become sitting duck to terrorism The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari declared yesterday that he is contesting next month’s election to correct the anomalies which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed to tackle in its 16 years in charge of the nation’s affairs. Speaking to an unprecedented crowd which the chairman of the party, chief john Odigie-Oyegun described as fantastic, Gen Buhari listed some of the anomalies as insecurity in the land, youth unemployment, kidnapping, corruption and inadequate electricity. Also speaking in Awka, Anambra State, in continuation of his nationwide campaign ahead of the election, he cited the failure of the federal authorities to rescue the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted last April by Boko Haram, stressing that if the federal government was truly alive to its responsibility, the girls should have been freed. The APC is ready and determined to take Nigeria to the great height it deserves to be and that the Southeast will be given its prime of place if he wins the election, Buhari told thousands of broom waving supporters at the Emmaus House Field venue of the rally. Also speaking, former Governor of Anambra State and Senator representing Central Zone, Dr. Chris Ngige said that the Igbo have been taken for a ride for too long by the PDP, and said this is the time for them to say enough. He said that PDP government had given Ndigbo broken promises ranging from the second Niger Bridge to River Ports and failure to rehabilitate South East roads. Ngige said the APC would have its agents in all polling booths across the nation to ensure that the PDP does not succeed in rigging. Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State said an APC government at the federal level would give Nigeria an effective leadership. “That is why we searched everywhere to check who has the pedigree to lead this country out of the doldrums and the lot fell on General Muhammadu Buhari, who everybody knows is a man of integrity and character,” he said. He said PDP members are afraid of Buhari because of his anti-corruption stance. Others who spoke in the same vein were former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, and APC National Auditor, Chief George Muoghalu. Three House of Representatives defectors from PDP and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were in attendance. They are Victor Afam Ogene (Ogbaru), Forte Dike (Ihiala) and Emeke Nwogbo (Awka North and South). Also there were Buhari’s running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Oni, National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Senator Osita Isunaso, National Woman Leader Sharon Ikeazor and APC members in the state House of assembly in the state. A minute silence was observed in honour of those who lost their lives in an explosion at a poultry market in Maiduguri yesterday. General Buhari and his entourage paid courtesy visits to the traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu and the Anglican Bishop of Awka, the Most Rev. Alex Ibezim, who presented him a copy of the Holy Bible. Seeing the Enugu crowd, Gen. Buhari was left speechless when he arrived the venue at about 5.15pm. People started waiting for the APC campaign train as early as 8am. An elated Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo told Buhari, “Now you can see with your two eyes that we have broken the jinx.” Buhari in a short speech due to lack of time promised that the coal industry in Enugu would be revived and the Oji River power station revamped to supply enough power to the area. He promised to evolve a policy that would enable rice farmers produce greater quantity for exports. Odigie-Oyegun who spoke both in English and pidgin asked the people of South East zone what they have gained from the PDP in the 16 years they have been following PDP. The highlight of the event was the handing over of the party flag to the governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ezea by the party chairman. Meanwhile, Gen. Buhari yesterday expressed disappointment that Nigeria has become a sitting duck to terrorist attacks, while victims of such attacks are left to their fate. General Buhari in a statement on the Boko Haram attack in Baga, Borno State, asked the federal government to introduce more proactive and effective security strategies to curtail the menace of terrorism in the country. He said it was high time government reviewed its counter-terrorism strategies. He maintained that the security, welfare and the happiness of the citizens are the basic responsibilities of any government, saying a situation where the citizens are helplessly living with the specter of terrorist attacks contradicts these basic functions. He said : “on our way back from campaigning in two states in South Eastern Nigeria, we were informed of the unspeakable massacre that took place in Baga earlier Thursday.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 07:09:58 +0000