The Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari was more focused on taking Nigeria to the Next Level even as he solicited support of Nigerians towards achieving the President’s re-election bid.
Bello made this known while addressing a mammoth crowd at a rally organised at Eagles Square, Abuja by a group, Drive 4 Buhari/Osinbajo 2019.
According to the Governor, President Muhammadu Buhari has justified his mandate by executing programmes and projects with direct bearing on the people of the nation.
“No President has invested in the process of lifting the poor from poverty like President Muhammadu Buhari. The SIP has been his vehicle for advancing his anti-poverty Agenda for the nation.
“Under President Muhammadu Buhari, road projects were executed across the nation and healthcare delivery has been wonderful. Above all, we have been able to get the support of the international community in our efforts to diversify the economy because they trust our President. They know he is transparent and focused on taking Nigeria to the Next Level.
“In Nigeria today, we have two banks. Buhari Bank and Atiku Bank. Which bank will you put your money? “
Governor Bello enjoined APC supporters to continue the campaign for President Buhari’s reelection noting that the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket represent “Africa’s Finest” in the areas of integrity and performance.
Bello however urged canvassers to focus on the ‘programs and hope offered by the APC-led administration rather than dwelling on the failure of 16 years under the PDP’.
“We must stop reminding Nigerians of the years of locust. For 16 years, our nation was robbed and deprived of development. Buhari/Osinbajo has brought hope and development.
“Our pride as a nation is back. Corruption and insurgency have been dealt big blows and we are assured the duo will lead our nation to the next Level,” the Governor said.
While speaking at the rally, vice-President Yemi Osinbajo noted that members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar could attest to the integrity and honesty of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I will not speak much, I will only give you certain examples and then you will make your choice. Because the difference is clear between APC and any other political party.
Osinbajo, who was beaming with smile while acknowledging cheers from the enthusiastic crowd, chanted APC campaign slogans while the audience responded.
The vice-President said the major problem of Nigeria was corruption- stealing of the resources of the people, adding that Nigeria would never give looters chance to return to power.
“We will not allow them to come back. I think that the very right question has been asked; where will you rather put your money?
“Even the enemies will put their money in his bank because they know that their money will be safe in his bank; we have today an honest man as president, a man who will use the money for what it is meant.
“Even his worst enemy knows that he is an honest man and that he will use the money. I pray for our country that our country will be great.
“And the only way our country would be great is if you and I vote for a man who is honest, for a man who is truthful, a man we know, even his opponents know, everybody in PDP knows that he is an honest man.
“Even Atiku knows that Buhari is an honest man; and he can never deny that; nobody can deny that; that is the kind of leader we want for our country today.’’
Osinbajo added that the President Buhari-led administration had made giant strides in the last three years.
According to him, for the first time, the country is spending money on roads and railways.
The vice president listed some completed and ongoing projects as the Lagos-Kano railway; Itakpe—Warri railway and second Niger Bridge.
“In every state of Nigeria, we are building a major road. We are going to do the Lagos-Calabar railway. We are going to complete that by the grace of God. Port Harcourt-Maiduguri we are going to complete it.
“When we came into office, after 16 years, 3000mw of power was all that we had. Today, we have 7000MW,’’ he said.
Osinbajo thanked the campaign coordinators for working so hard across the country to drive home the APC campaign.
On his part, Festus Keyamo, director of Media of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, said that the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme was the first since 1960 aimed at improving the lives of the poor.
Earlier in his remark, the Coordinator of One 2-Tell-10 Support Group, Dr. Abudallahi Bafa, said that the rally was organised to push the Next Level agenda.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation (N-Power Scheme), Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede in his contribution highlighted the impact of the scheme on young Nigerian; hence the need for another four years for the administration.
The minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who spoke on behalf of other ministers at the event, urged Nigerians to vote for continuation so that Buhari would consolidate on his feats.
Afterwards, Osinbajo proceeded to the UTC Market, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, where he addressed the artisans and urged them to vote for Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election.
