I’ll fulfill all my campaign promises, Buhari assures Nigerians

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the people of Benue State to vote for him in the February 16 poll, assuring that he would not change but will be consistent and remain steadfast in fulfilling his campaign promises to Nigerians, especially in the fight against corruption. The President, who stated this on Wednesday while addressing the people at the Presidential Campaign rally held at the Aper Aku Stadium, in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said he remains committed to revamping the economy. Buhari thanked the crowd for defying the weather and standing for hours to come and see and listen to them, saying, “I am very grateful, I am convinced that you believe in what we are doing and that you stand to support us even further.” “When I came to look for your vote in 2015, I promised three fundamental issues based on our party manifesto. Security, economy and fighting corruption. “We will do roads, railways and provide electricity with monies recovered from looters. I assure you, I am not going to change. I am going to be consistent, I will remain steadfast. Anybody who abuses trust will be exposed and he will be dispossessed,” he added. The president further assured that he would ensure the completion of the ongoing rail project across all the states of the federation and increase electricity generation to a substantial level. National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, in his remarks, said that any man who lies cannot be a good leader and the community will be in danger, “but with Buhari Nigeria is safe,” calling on the people to vote for the president. Oshiomhole said that the responsibility of peace and unity is not in the exclusive list, adding that “peace and unity is not gotten in the barrel of gun.” He expressed confidence that the gubernatorial candidate of APC in the state, Hon Emmanuel Ejime, can take a cue from Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, on how the people of Benue are to live together in peace and unity. Citing America, Oshiomhole said the most powerful country on earth has all ethnic groups all over the world as its citizens and it is still issuing visa for more people to come. According to him, all we want in Nigeria are people who will not blame others for their failures. He reminded the people that President Buhari gave N10 billion to each state in the country as bailout fund to pay salaries but some governors failed to pay the workers their wages. “I have come with a message of hope, with Jime as Governor, salary will be paid in Benue. Use the broom to sweep away bad leaders. “We have stopped importing rice, the billions of naira used in importing expired rice from India and Malaysia are now in the hands of the rural people who are now producing rice,” the party chairman said. He added that “anybody who is supporting importation of food is against Benue people because Benue is the food basket of the nation.” He urged the people to reject any leader who will sell the nation’s assets, alleging that “the candidate of the PDP will loot the economy to favour his friends, adding that “Nigeria cannot return to second hand.” “Nobody has the right to bear fire arms if you are not a security agent”, he warned. While presenting the party’s flag to the governorship candidate of the party in Benue State, Hon Emmanuel Ejime, the APC national chairman charged him to win the forthcoming election. Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, in his remarks, said he was very fortunate because in 2015 people didn’t give them opportunity because they brought in religion into the campaign but despite that the APC went ahead to win the elections. Governor Lalong said: “When people are not paying salaries, no projects, they hide under the guise of crisis”. He noted that it happened in Plateau State and now it is happening in Benue State. “In the whole north central, we have put a lot of things behind us because Mr. President said we should move to the next level and we will use our brooms to sweep our way to the next level.” He urged the people of Benue to vote for Buhari and the governorship candidate of the APC in the general election, assuring that they will deliver 90 per cent in Plateau State and 80 per cent in Benue State. Senator George Akume, in his remarks, said the people of Benue will give President Buhari 70 per cent votes in the February 16 poll. Akume said that Buhari has managed the economy very well and they are very proud of him. He said that Buhari’s landmark project is impacting positively on the lives of the people. “Mr. President, you promised to provide infrastructure and we are seeing it, you are not a man of talk but action- talk and do.” Also speaking at the rally, Abba Yaro, Benue State APC Chairman, assured that the state will deliver their votes for Buhari and the governorship candidate will win the election.