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The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday in Ibadan said that the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had brought “very nasty experience and untold hardship’’ to Nigerians.
Buhari spoke at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan during his presidential campaign rally which attracted a mammoth crowd of party faithful and citizens of the state who lined up the streets from the Ibadan Airport to the venue of the campaign.
Present at the occasion were the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, his Osun and Rivers State counterparts, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and Mr. Rotimi Amaechi respectively.
Also in attendance were former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, a former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Deputy National Chairman, South of the party, Chief Segun Oni as well as Buhari’s running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The APC presidential flag bearer said that wanton corruption at the centre had foisted an orgy of suffering on Nigerians, adding that the PDP rule had brought nothing but insecurity, corruption and destruction of the nation’s infrastructure.
“The 16 years experience of PDP has been a very nasty experience. Majority of Nigerians of 30 years and above are unemployed. The corruption at the centre has brought an orgy of suffering to Nigerians.
“PDP has brought us insecurity and destruction of infrastructure. They spent more than $20 billion on power, yet no electricity. They encouraged smuggling and this has made our borders porous.
“Come out on the day of election and vote PDP out for good and make your votes count. With what I saw from the airport to this place, I have no doubt in the South-West bloc votes for APC. I will never forget the experience I had from the Airport to this place (Mapo Hall).
“If you want Nigeria to improve, it will happen, with your votes. An APC government will make sure infrastructure is in place; we will ensure tremendous improvement in power supply.
“We will also make sure we fix the expressway from Lagos to here (Ibadan) and from here to Ilorin. These will be a priority for the APC. Please let us unite and remove PDP,’’ he said.
Buhari also expressed delight at what he called the visible improvement in governance and infrastructure in Oyo State, commending Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the remarkable achievements which he said had qualified him for a second term.
Responding after receiving the party’s flag from the National Chairman, Governor Ajimobi said change was inevitable at the national level for the country to prosper and progress.
Urging the people to vote for him for a second term, the governor said he had spent the sacred mandate given to him by the people of the state in 2011 judiciously as exemplified by the tremendous improvement in infrastructure, welfare of the people, the urban renewal programme, youth employment and general empowerment.
Drawing inspiration from a former Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, he said “we do not know whether if we change, things will improve; but for things to improve, we must change. I, therefore, urge you to turn out in large numbers on the day of election to vote out PDP and vote for APC at all levels,’’ Ajimobi said.
In their remarks, Tinubu and Aregbesola said that Nigerians are now wiser and would not again fall for President Goodluck Jonathan’s shoeless sloganeering of 2011.
“Jonathan was also here (Mapo Hall) before our visit today and without any doubt, we cannot compare this tumultuous crowd from the airport, to the scanty crowd that witnessed his campaign. The large presence of Yorubas here today is an indication that we have embraced change.
“Yorubas have signed for change. Four years ago, he (Jonathan) said he had no shoes; we have bought enough shoes for him now, let him retire home and leave us to repair the damage he had done in the last six years,’’ Aregbesola said.
To Tinubu, the state of the nation requires empathy for what he called the despondency and sufferings that President Jonathan has subjected Nigerians to in the last six years.
“Go and collect your permanent voter’s card to enable you vote PDP out. It is your possession. Don’t let polls robbers rob us again. Jonathan has ruined our economy. He came and said he did not have shoes, we bought shoes, shirts and ties for him now. Enough is enough.
“For six years, he gave us excuses that there is no money; it is time for him to go. And again, we have somebody here whose tenure has witnessed an unprecedented development in the history of Oyo State. Ajimobi has performed very well.
“ So on the day of the elections, get to the polling centres early enough, vote and record the voter card number, and wait till they count your votes. With your support, we shall send PDP packing,’’ Tinubu said.
Also speaking, Amaechi said that it was intriguing that Jonathan could go to the South-South and tell the people that he did not do anything in the zone as alleged.
“Age comes with experience. If a 57-year-old man was given the opportunity for six years and yet proved incapable of fixing the country, we need the experience of a 72-year- old man.
“They said $20b oil money was missing, but the President said it was $10b, yet they could not trace it. It is mere fiction for him to say that he wants to create 20 million jobs. This is somebody who could not create one million jobs in six years. What miracle does he want to perform? That is what they call fiction,’’ he said.
For the umpteenth time, Oyegun warned against the rumoured postponement of the general elections and the enthronement of an interim government in Nigeria.
“All those who have ears, let them hear. And for those who have eyes, let them see. A word is enough for the wise,’’ he said.
