National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday declared that no amount of letters by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, will stop President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections. The former governor, who made the call in Lagos, while speaking at the colloquium to mark his 66th birthday, called on Nigerians not to allow the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return to power.
“Thank you Nigerians for being patient with us; but there is a clear understanding here that the difference between us and them is like day and night. My grandmother used to ask me to write letters to her. Somebody is writing letters now, letter of politics these days as if they have not been there before. Bad belle letters!” the former governor said.
Tinubu, who opted to speak extempore instead of his prepared speech titled: “Investing in people: A more accurate perspective,” expressed confidence that the Buhari-led administration will bring back the country’s lost glory, while standard of living would be enhanced with the investment of the nation’s resources on the people.
Obasanjo had, in January, told Buhari to go home and rest instead of contesting the 2019 presidential election. He also advised the President not to overpush his luck or over-tax the patience and tolerance of Nigerians “no matter what his self-serving, socalled advisers, who would claim that they love him more that God loves him, would say.”
In a special statement titled “The way out: A clarion call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement,” the former president added that Buhari has already given his best and should consider a deserved rest instead of running for presidency again. Babangida, who also insisted that President Buhari must leave office in 2019, urged Nigerians to cooperate with him to complete his term of office on May 29, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for a new generation of leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country. In a statement titled “Towards a national rebirth,” the former Military President also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the APC-led Federal Government.
But, Tinubu, who faulted the former leaders, said in spite of the obvious challenges confronting the country, there is a clear difference between the present APC administration and past PDP governments. His words: “I have a prepared speech, but I am not going to dwell on that. Life is not without challenges.
Our logo is broom, we have to come together, you have a Nigeria focusing against terrorism, against corruption and to promote economic revival of the country. “We have faced challenges in the last three years. We came in with a lot of hope and enthusiasm as APC leaders. We gave our people hope; we believed in Nigeria and in ourselves, thinking we can change Nigeria for good and we are still going to do it. Life is nothing without challenges.
Our logo is broom bound together. This symbolizes a united Nigeria against terrorism, corruption and revival of the economy. “I can see what the government is doing with the little resources at its disposal. This has been demonstrated in practical terms. What’s the lesson to all Nigerians? Forget those parties; they won’come back.
We did not envisage that there would be so much challenges. So, we would report back to Nigerians about what we found on ground. We did not say that there would be no challenges, because even America is facing challenges. They have wasted our resources.
“I’m happy the President can change the course of the ship wreckage; the ship of this country that is headed in the wrong direction; to steer the ship back or anchor before redirecting it, which of course is ing of public resources. “Every time we talk about corruption, our opponents say, don’t talk about it; just do your own. We will talk about it. The reason why we must talk about it is that, we must let our people know that we cannot afford to go this way again.
“Never again should we allow the system where people steal the resources of this country and use them against the people. We as a party and government must show the difference between us and the party and government that destroyed the Nigerian economy.” Earlier in an opening address, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said the colloquium was another veritable roundtable for the generation of ideas by all stakeholders.
His words: “Look around you, there are only a few people that can match his unquestionable thirst to invest in people. It goes without any gainsaying that, I join numerous others seated here or outside, that have gained in the investment Asiwaju has made on people.
I am grateful for that. “His era as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 showed the depth of his governance capacity. After his gubernatorial years, he has continued to show pivotal leadership, particularly on the national stage. It is not for nothing that he is acknowledged for his defining role in the emergence of a progressive political party in Nigeria.” Among eminent Nigerians who graced the event were Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Umar Ganduje (Kano), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), AbdulFatahi Ahmed (Kwara), Muhammadu Badaru (Jigawa), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Muhammad Abubakar (Bauchi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal. Others were Ministers of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu; Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Jim Ovia, Oba Otudeko and former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, among others. (New Telegraph. Photo: Premium Times)