By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA—Kano State Governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwa has formally declared his intention to run for the office of the president of Nigeria on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC.
His declaration, yesterday, has brought the number of presidential aspirants in APC to three.
Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had previously declared on the same platform.
The declaration, which held at the old parade ground in Abuja attracted not only a mammoth crowd of men and women across the country but also notable chieftains of APC.
KWANKWASO DECLARES— Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (M); with his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Rotimi Amaechi (2nd right); Kano State Governor and presidential aspirant on the platform of APC, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso(right); APC chieftain Audu Ogbe (left), and Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje (2nd left) during the Presidential bid declaration of Kwankwaso at the former Parade Ground, Abuja, yesterday
Among them were governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Rivers State governor, Mr. Chibuike Ameachi, immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, and former National chairman of Peoples Democratic Peoples, Abubakar Baraje.
Others included Sen. Buhari Abba Ibrahim (Yobe State) Sen. Kabiru Gaya (Kano State) former Minister of Communication and APC chieftain, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Senators George Akume (Benue State), Chris Ngige (Anambra State) and Robert Boroffice (Ondo State) among others.
He’s a good man —AMAECHI
Speaking on behalf of APC governors, Rivers State governor and chairman of the governors forum, Chibuike Amaechi described Kwankwaso as a good man.
He further stated that APC governors will work together to realize his ambition should he emerge the presidential candidate of the party.
Also, Senator Boroffice extolled the virtues of Kwankwaso, saying his credibility stood him out among other aspirants.
Former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume, while describing Kwankwaso’s declaration as good news to the Nigerian public also charged the people to put their trust on Kwankwaso whom he said made a name for himself during his time as the Minister of Defence.
According to him, the abduction of Chibok girls, which he said has become an albatross on the neck of the present regime under President Goodluck Jonathan would not have happened were Kwankwaso in the saddle as the president of Nigeria.
Reeling out his achievements in Kano State, Governor Kwankwaso said the success of the journey and the clarion call by Nigerians were his motivation in seeking election into the office of the president in 2015.
“The success of this journey and clarion call by patriotic Nigerians from across the country motivated me to seek APC’s nomination as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the February 2015 general election. I therefore, wish to accept this call and to formally declare my interest to seek for the Presidential ticket of our great party the APC in February 2015 general elections.
“I am offering myself and soliciting the support of all patriotic Nigerians to join Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on this difficult journey to reclaim our country from the clutches of incompetence and destruction and return it onto the pedestal of peace and progress. I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult and arduous. I have no illusion about the enormity of the challenges. But to save our country, we must walk the journey, however difficult. And we must confront and defeat all the challenges, however, monstrous they are. Yes, we must.”
According to him, the call to save Nigeria has never been louder than now.
“Mr. Chairman and fellow APC members, the call to save our dear country has never been louder, clearer and more unambiguous than now. Every facet of our national life is deteriorating: governance has been reduced to mediocrity; incompetence and impunity. I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult and arduous. I have no illusion about the enormity of the challenges. But to save our country, we must walk the journey, however difficult. And we must confront and defeat all the challenges, however monstrous. Yes, we must!, he said.
He also stated that tackling insecurity, corruption, economic restoration among others will form the nexus of his government if elected president.
“The first priority of this country at this moment is restoring peace and security in every corner of the land. Lives and properties of our citizens must be protected and secured. Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency must be defeated. As a government, we cannot afford to live in denial.” Insecurity is escalating at an alarming rate. Little wonder rag-tag insurgents are taking over cities and towns in the Northeast. My experiences as Nigeria’s Defence Minister and as Special Adviser on war-torn Darfur and Somalia have shown me that securing a nation and fighting and defeating armed insurgents is only achievable if the forces are professionally mobilized, properly kitted and equipped, highly spirited, and correctly armed with intelligence and munitions.
“My experiences have shown me that technology must be deployed in addition to mobilizing and cultivating the support of local communities. Cross-border intelligence is a veritable ingredient necessary to defeat armed insurgents. Relegating the welfare of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to the background only helps in compounding the phenomenon. And where low morals meet poor quality equipment and kits, no doubt the insurgents will have an edge. Any responsible government must take these issues seriously if protection of life and property of its citizens is its primary responsibility. These, we understand very well. We must work together, compatriots, in a new APC government to achieve this. Yes, we must!
“Our journey to economic prosperity will always be imperilled if the peace and security of movements of persons and goods cannot be guaranteed. Stopping these menaces does not require rocket science. Good surveillance equipment deployed appropriately and manned by well-groomed and well motivated enforcement agents will do the magic. Ensuring that the culprits are apprehended and brought to justice is imperative.
On corruption
“The second priority of this country, my compatriots, is killing the cancer of corruption that has eaten so deeply into the very fabric of our value system. The impunity with which corruption is being perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration leaves no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government is working deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians.. We must stop them. We must save our country. Yes, we must. Effective fight against corruption requires strong institutions, political will of the leadership, as well as cooperation of the citizenry. This, we are determined to do. Our antecedent testifies that we have the capacity and political will to do so.
“The transparency with which we are running the affairs of Kano State and the results that the entire country is seeing are a testament.
(culled from Vanguard).
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