President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to drop their personal ambitions and influences and place national interest as top priority.
The President said this is the only way the party can achieve its campaigns manifestos of addressing security, economy, employment and corruption.
He said: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”.
President Buhari, who hosted the party leadership to breaking of the Ramadan fast at the new Banquet Hall at the Presidential Villa Tuesday evening, went down memory lane of how the party surmounted many obstacles to emerge strong enough to dislodge the PDP, urging that it was important for the members to lay aside their differences and unite for the sake of the country.
Buhari, who commended Tinubu for his support and words of encouragement said, it was important to reflect on their journey in order for them to appreciate how lucky they are as a political group.
“I always like to go down memory lane to show how lucky we are as a political group.
“At no stage was the decision taken by chance it was all deliberate. The leaders of the parties felt the only way to wrest power from the PDP was for us to come together. I in particular was scared after previous failures of the elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011.
“We dissolved our various parties to form APC then we applied to INEC, for once I was grateful to INEC. We had gone with nine people to INEC to apply and INEC advised us that we needed at least 25 people across the people to form a political party. We were able to go back raised 35 members across the country and then successfully registered the party.
“INEC then informed the federal government that we have met the requirements hence we cannot be denied registration. Many doubting Thomases said merger has never succeeded in Nigeria but here we are.
“I went into this long explanation so that you will appreciate how far we have come and for a society as ours, if we respect the constitution, then all the greed and problems will be a thing of the fast.
“We should just look at Nigeria as Nigerians, no matter the level you are, loss your influence so that we can help achieve the manifestos – security, economy, employment and corruption because if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. We have to ensure that people we bring forward are those that will move the society forward”.
Also speaking at the event, National Leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned remarks coming from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other Nigerians that the Buhari administration is too slow, saying the government cannot clean the 16-year mess of the PDP in 30 days.
He described the APC as the ‘Armoured Personnel Carrier’, saying it represented the diversity of Nigeria.
While thanking Buhari for the opportunity of breaking fast with him bringing together people for various background regardless of religious affiliations.
He said: “We believe this diversity will continue to propel us for economic growth under your leadership.
“This is the first Ramadan after the election, we thank God for cutting down the opponents 60 years of fake promises to 16 years.
“I heard they say we are slow. Yes, we didn’t campaign to be fire fighters, but planners and meticulous one at that. A latrine pit of 16 years can’t be cleaned up in 30 days because the mess is much.
“Mr. President you started well, you hit the ground running. You promised Nigerians that you’ll address security and your first meeting to ECOWAS was on security because we cannot fight alone.
“You have been to others places, if they think is a game of ludo we will say is serious business. If they forgot G7 we will remind them.
“We have faith in you Mr. President, we have faith in your capacity and uprightness. I’m here filled up and not fed up.
“We promise to continue to be with you and support you. No matter what they are saying we are not re-running the election until four years time.
“We pray to God to give us four more years of this month and pray to Him to forgive our misdeeds, and for peace and stability, with this Nigeria is a promise to the future.
“Mr. President, your hands are are on the plough and you will succeed.”
The President said this is the only way the party can achieve its campaigns manifestos of addressing security, economy, employment and corruption.
He said: “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”.
President Buhari, who hosted the party leadership to breaking of the Ramadan fast at the new Banquet Hall at the Presidential Villa Tuesday evening, went down memory lane of how the party surmounted many obstacles to emerge strong enough to dislodge the PDP, urging that it was important for the members to lay aside their differences and unite for the sake of the country.
Buhari, who commended Tinubu for his support and words of encouragement said, it was important to reflect on their journey in order for them to appreciate how lucky they are as a political group.
“I always like to go down memory lane to show how lucky we are as a political group.
“At no stage was the decision taken by chance it was all deliberate. The leaders of the parties felt the only way to wrest power from the PDP was for us to come together. I in particular was scared after previous failures of the elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011.
“We dissolved our various parties to form APC then we applied to INEC, for once I was grateful to INEC. We had gone with nine people to INEC to apply and INEC advised us that we needed at least 25 people across the people to form a political party. We were able to go back raised 35 members across the country and then successfully registered the party.
“INEC then informed the federal government that we have met the requirements hence we cannot be denied registration. Many doubting Thomases said merger has never succeeded in Nigeria but here we are.
“I went into this long explanation so that you will appreciate how far we have come and for a society as ours, if we respect the constitution, then all the greed and problems will be a thing of the fast.
“We should just look at Nigeria as Nigerians, no matter the level you are, loss your influence so that we can help achieve the manifestos – security, economy, employment and corruption because if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. We have to ensure that people we bring forward are those that will move the society forward”.
Also speaking at the event, National Leader of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned remarks coming from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other Nigerians that the Buhari administration is too slow, saying the government cannot clean the 16-year mess of the PDP in 30 days.
He described the APC as the ‘Armoured Personnel Carrier’, saying it represented the diversity of Nigeria.
While thanking Buhari for the opportunity of breaking fast with him bringing together people for various background regardless of religious affiliations.
He said: “We believe this diversity will continue to propel us for economic growth under your leadership.
“This is the first Ramadan after the election, we thank God for cutting down the opponents 60 years of fake promises to 16 years.
“I heard they say we are slow. Yes, we didn’t campaign to be fire fighters, but planners and meticulous one at that. A latrine pit of 16 years can’t be cleaned up in 30 days because the mess is much.
“Mr. President you started well, you hit the ground running. You promised Nigerians that you’ll address security and your first meeting to ECOWAS was on security because we cannot fight alone.
“You have been to others places, if they think is a game of ludo we will say is serious business. If they forgot G7 we will remind them.
“We have faith in you Mr. President, we have faith in your capacity and uprightness. I’m here filled up and not fed up.
“We promise to continue to be with you and support you. No matter what they are saying we are not re-running the election until four years time.
“We pray to God to give us four more years of this month and pray to Him to forgive our misdeeds, and for peace and stability, with this Nigeria is a promise to the future.
“Mr. President, your hands are are on the plough and you will succeed.”
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