The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, has called on leaders and elders of the party to keep their eyes on the ball and work as they have never done before, despite the six-week postponement of the elections.
General Buhari who made the call today when he addressed party leaders and elders at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja said: “the days and weeks ahead will be tough. Our resolve will be tested and all kinds of evil tricks will be on display. But do not despair. The goal is in sight. “Change is coming. The people of Nigeria will prevail. God has destined Nigeria to be a great country. We shall overcome and Change shall be achieved.”
The presidential candidate described as “worrisome” the recent revelations by Captain Sagir Koli about how he, a serving officer at that time, was deployed, with other serving officers, some more senior in rank, to work with key politicians of the PDP to rig the Ekiti elections.
“Up till now, there has been no official denial of this most unfortunate event. It makes me wonder, in the circumstances that led to shifting of the date of the general elections, whether the security services are even now being prepared to play similar roles in the March 28th and April 11th elections.”
General Buhari emphasised that Nigeria’s security services have serious constitutional responsibilities to the people of the nation, and so their importance to the wellbeing of the country cannot be under estimated.
“It is therefore imperative that their leaders must not drag these invaluable institutions into the realm of partisan politics.”
The APC presidential candidate also commended some of the party leaders in attendance, who lost in the various primaries to choose candidates for the party during the elections and rather than being disappointed, have thrown their energies and resources into the campaign, not minding their personal losses.
“There are others who have been made mind boggling offers by our opponents in a bid to break our ranks and curtail our momentum in the march to change Nigeria for good, yet you have chosen to be on the side of a cause that is just.”
General Buhari urged the party leaders and faithful not to rest, thinking that all is won.
“Six weeks is a long time and we do not know the plans of the other side but with our strong resolve we will prevail. Therefore let us keep our eyes on the ball.
“The important issue today is that we must use the next six weeks that have been imposed on us to re-charge and re-focus on our goal. We should aim to achieve a victory that will be beyond dispute and proceed to form the next government and start work on the task of rebuilding our beloved country.” [myad]
