President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday warned Nigerian youths against violence and being used by desperate politicians to violate the sanctity of the ballot box.
Speaking during the public presentation of the book, ‘‘Nigeria on Firmer Ground, Towards Lasting Peace and Progress’’ , a detail records of his achievements in the past four years, the President said Nigerians need a country to live in after the elections
“Let us remember that elections will come and go, but we need a country in which to live. I am appealing to our youths: do not allow yourselves to be used by desperate politicians to violate the sanctity of the ballot and endanger our country.
He however assured that the security agencies will be there to protect people as they go out to vote without fear of violence or molestation.
“As the nation prepares to give her citizens the opportunity to choose their leaders and representatives in the next few weeks, I urge all Nigerians to exercise their civic duty in an atmosphere of peace and security.
President Buhari said he is convinced that his administration has made real progress , even as he said “we are poised to do more by taking Nigeria to the NEXT LEVEL of development, prosperity, peace and stability.
“We are also poised to make life – changing progress in infrastructure, agriculture, social investments, and much more.
He recounted the achievements of his administration to include returning the economy to sustainable growth, degrading Boko Haram terrorists and boldly confronting the monster called corruption.
Buhari noted that “ history will remember this Administration as one that did what it promised and charted the path for a future of which we can all be proud.
“Going round the country in the past weeks on our campaign stops, I believe that our message emphasizing the need to stick to the winning team and not risk returning our country to irresponsible leadership, at any level of government, has resonated with the people.
The President berated the opposition saying that “ their stock-in-trade is the avaricious plunder of our national assets and resources, and ordinary Nigerians are quite aware of their conduct in government.
“Our simple message to the Nigerian electorate is to give us four more years to build and consolidate on the foundations we have painstakingly laid so that we shall all reap the benefits of what we have planted in all sectors of our society.
“We have proved better managers of our national assets and the limited resources available to us than past administrations, and we are committed to entrenching higher levels of accountability and transparency in the years ahead.
National Leader of the All Progressive Congress APC, Bola Tinubu in his address, declared that the President has managed to return Nigeria to the path of growth.
“Our foreign exchange reserves have been rebuilt. Inflation has been brought under control and our balance of trade steadily improved. These macroeconomic indicators point to an economy that, under the watchful eye of the President, is steadily recovering.
He however asserted that such positive economic statistics mean little to ordinary Nigerians striving to put food on their tables.
In his speech read on his behalf by Dele Alake, a former Commissioner in Lagos state, Tinubu described APC as a party of compassion and progressivism.
“Despite the relatively meagre revenues of this government compared to prior governments, the Buhari administration set out to do what the other governments cared not to do. That is to give direct care to the nation’s poorest and most put upon citizens.
He noted that the primary school feeding program and monthly stipends for the poor feed millions, enable children to remain in school, and have energized local economies by creating scores of thousands of jobs while providing a measure of economic security to our poorest citizens.
The All Progressive Congress APC , National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, in his remarks noted that before the current administration, Nigerians had wondered about the difference between one government and another.
He however noted that a major distinguishing factor between the current administration and those before it is that “ when this government make a policy, it is sustained, as against previous cases of policy incoherence and policy inconsistencies”
He berated the previous government for not sustaining the nation’s infrastructures
“How come that when we had less graduates and less money, we were able to sustain the railways and as the day goes bye, the rail got destroyed without any concrete actions taken”
He noted that those who are complaining of hardship under the current dispensation are those who were living on free money adding that the government has no apologies for such complains.
“What some people are going through is a withdrawal syndrome , so Nigeria cannot be the same again. That is why we are moving the country to the next level.
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani in his speech, described President Muhammadu Buhari as “the envy of other political parties” and APC National Chairman, Oshiomhole as a nightmare to other parties.
Nnamani while also pleading for more time for President Buhari to enable him “complete the good works he has started “, adding that “ he deserved more time, since he is not asking for a third term”.
