Buhari: winds up campaign

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday appealed to party supporters to maintain a rancour-free atmosphere in the run-up to Saturday’s elections.

He also urged them to vote out the ruling Peoples Democratic Party for letting the people down.

“The 16 years of PDP administration is a story of despair, despondency, disillusionment and pervasive fear, caused by unprecedented insecurity. The basic functions of the government such as the security, welfare and happiness of the citizens appear only in paper. It is morally wrong for any government that has woefully failed in these basic responsibilities to demand or expect another mandate from the disillusioned citizens of Nigeria.

“The PDP administration has exhausted all its goodwill and lost all the argument on performance and competence and is, as a result, seeking to retain power at all costs, regardless of performance, is a shameless reflection of desperation and greed for power. A government that abandoned its citizens to their fates has no reason to remain in office a day longer than necessary,” he said.

Buhari said this in a message tagged ‘last campaign’ to Nigerians at a world news conference in Abuja.

According to him, party faithful should treat others with the same kind of respect they expect.

”As we come out to vote on Saturday, I appeal to all Nigerians to shun violence in whatever form.

”It is the right of every adult Nigerian to vote and expect that their votes would count in a free, fair and credible election.

”However, we also have a responsibility to respect the choice of others and grant them the same treatment that we expect,” he said.

He appealed to security agencies to remember that their dream of one Nigeria was the same with everyone else hence they should safeguard the will of the people.

“I also want to call on all our men and women in uniform, the judiciary, and all others who have constitutional responsibility to safeguard our democracy, to remember that their responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and the survival of Nigeria.

“They must therefore not allow anyone to use them to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. I believe that their dreams and aspirations are not different from those of other Nigerians.

“I have no doubt that with God being on our side, together we can make our country great once again,’’ Buhari said.

He urged Nigerians not to ignore the significance of the times as a stable Nigeria was important to Nigerians and the world.

He said it was the fourth time that he would be standing for election as the President of Nigeria because he was driven by a “keen awareness of the potential greatness of our country and the desire to provide the leadership that will unleash this huge potential.

“I believe that a stable and prosperous Nigeria is not only important to Nigerians. It is also important to Africa and the rest of the world.