President Muhammadu Buhari raises the hands of Mr Godwin Obaseki, Governorship candidate of the APC in Edo State (left) and Hon Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governorship candidate, with them is Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and his wife, Iara Oshiomhole at the grand finale rally of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, on Tuesday.

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday pleaded with Nigerians to bear with the government on the present economic challenges facing the country for a while, assuring that Nigeria would soon overcome its present challenges posed by economic recession.

He gave the assurance on Tuesday in Benin, Edo State, at the grand finale of the governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the gubernatorial election holding this weekend, said that Nigeria will be great again.

“Oshiomhole has reminded you what we have gone through since 1999-2015. As long as Nigeria exists, we will continue to play our role in stabilizing Nigeria. We are a nation of great human and material resources especially the youths.

“Please sit down and reflect and remember what I said years ago that there is no other nation like Nigeria. We will remain one together because no matter where you go, the colour of your skin will be a problem for you.

“I assure you that we are going to get out of our economic doldrums, we are almost out of our insecurity problem and we are going to make Nigeria greater again. We are going to be very proud of our country once again. Our size, our resources will not be for nothing. We will continue to grow,” Buhari said.

President Muhammadu Buhari and HRH Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N’Uselu, at the palace of the Edaiken during a courtesy visit to the Crown Prince as part of the APC rally,on Tuesday.

He showered encomium on the late Oba of Benin whom he described as “a man with great integrity and there is no doubt that there is hardly any traditional ruler which is foremost and forthright like him.”

Commenting on the flag bearer of the APC in the election, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the President urged the people to vote him Governor to continue with the developmental stide of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

“We have seen development more than what it use to be when Edo state was created.I congratulate Obaseki and I recommend him to you. He is a seasoned man, so that you will continue to grow in Edo state. You have a credible team, you better hold them tight and ensure that Obaseki succeeds.

Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in his address to the mammoth crowd that thronged the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium-venue of the rally, described Godwin Obaseki as a dependable ally who fought with him like orphans, to rescue the state from the economic woe the PDP plunged it.

He there urged the people to vote the APC flag bearer as Governor on Saturday, adding; “I am proud to be identified with Obaseki.”

Commenting on the party’s flag bearer, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, said Obaseki was “instrumental to the successes recorded by Governor Oshiomhole.

Oyegun said the PDP squandered over N1 trillion during its 10 year rule and yet left the state a disrepair, whereas the state has witnessed a dramatic change in seven and half years of Oshiomhole’s administration.

He therefore urged Edo people to vote massively for Obaseki in appreciation of the developmental stride Oshiomhole brought to the state.

Present at the rally was the Chairman of APC governorship campaign committee and Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, who led other Governors.

Other APC Governors present were Senator Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, Malam Nasir el’Rufai of Kaduna State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of Kogi state and others.