Also, the former governor of Lagos state and a leader of the party Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu who was boisterous and energetic throughout the ceremony explained to the mammoth crowd in vernacular language why they needed to vote for the leadership of his party and vote out President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP in 2015 general elections.
Former Vice President and presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar and national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the declaration of rally of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday.
Majority of the presidential aspirants, namely Alh Atiku Abubakar, General Muhammadu Buhari, Alh Rabiu kwankwaso and former minister of FCT Mallam El Rufai were all in attendant.
Also governor of Kano state and other governors of the APC states, namely Governors Aliu Wamako of Sokoto, Adams Oshiomole of Edo, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and representatives from Osun Ogun and Oyo states among others were all present.
The host governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed and the leader of the party in Kwara state, Senator Bukola Saraki also took their turn to justify the reasons for granting second term to the incumbent governor and why they defected to APC .
Senator Bukola Saraki said he endorsed the governor for second term because of his impressive performance and loyalty and urged the people of Kwara not to be deceived and intimidated by the power of presidency and members of PDP in the state he described as artificial politicians who come around only during election period.
The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal while addressing the APC supporters said,
‘’In Kwara state your political history is very rich. You have had the foundation of the political struggle of this state laid by our late leader, Dr Olusola Saraki. This structure that is being sustained by God Almighty who has always delivered Kwara to the right place.’’
‘’ I believe that this time around there will not be anything different. With the support of the people of the state APC shall form 100 percent the government in the state from the local council to state Assembly and to the government house. Eventually and ultimately the state has always been providing leadership in the politics of this country.’’he stressed.
When it comes to presidential elections, the Speaker said,’’ I am sure that the state will provide such leadership to the extent that we shall deliver this country to the government at the centre to APC’’.
‘’By voting APC at the centre you will be voting for prosperity and eradication of poverty. What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is not governance, but mis-governance. We are witnessing a system that does not have the interest of the people of this country at heart.I call on President Jonathan to resign from office because of all these misgovernance and the untold hardship Nigerians are presently passing through.If he fails to do that it is therefore incumbent on us as a people to turn en-masse and vote out Goodluck Ebele Jonathan come 2015. That will bring peace, progress and development of Nigeria’’Tambuwal said.
The former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu told the APC members in Kwara,’’ Let me forget the protocol, because you are the votes. You are the people who must vote. We bring the greetings and respect of Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and the entire APC states in Nigeria.’’
‘’What I want to beg of you is to be ready to defend for change. The race has started again. We have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term in office as he has performed creditably well just like his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki’’.
Referring the government of PDP, he said, ’’The thieves that daily steal your money. They have not given you any job; they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.’’
‘’I saw the sea of refuges and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, creativity; the lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you. They are lying about the security; toying about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies.’’
‘’But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the armed of the federal republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country Jonathan should resigned. But if he will not resign he should wait for our broom we will sweep them.’’
‘’It now behooves you to begin a house to house campaign that this is a party of the masses. You had not seen Bukola and myself mounting the same podium campaigning for the same party before this time. This is a new beginning. This is a time of good things and tidings from us. We have brought good luck and commonsense revolution’’he said..
‘’Now it is time to apply commonsense revolution and it is about your lives. It is about your education, your jobs and about the security of this country. We stay together since independence and we will remain together. Any affecting any section of this country affects all of us.’’
‘’I will come back. This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed; that he will be re-elected by the grace of God with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by this administration of APC. We have the vision for the security of th e lives of our children.’’he stressed.
Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state in his remark who said he was impressed by the notable achievements of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed hence his personal attendance also poured encomiums on the political legacies of the late sage Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki which has continued to provide good leadership to the state even till now.
The governor of Rivers state,Mr Rotimi Amaechi said,this is the time to say the truth,the other party PDP is a party of liars,they are not truthful.When some has done well,you say thank you,we have come to say thank you’’
’’On the day of election,don’t allow PDP to rig you,they will bring soldier,and police, don’t allow them to intimidate you.They are stealing our money,they took it to South Africa,its time to fund our military to overrun these terroristst’’he said.
The former vice president, Alh Atiku Abubakar in his remark said,’’I was a foundation member of the current dispensation in kwara state,I wish Oloye were here alive today,we should make sure we sustain the legacy Oloye left behind by making sure that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is returned’’
Governor Ahmed in his address said,’’I pay homage to my predecessors for laying the foundation for a flourishing Kwara State that we upscaled through Shared Prosperity. Our state is much better than we met it and is growing everyday. Today, before all of you, I make bold to say we have essentially fulfilled our covenant and in the process strengthened your faith in governance.’’
After enumerating his numerous achievements the governor said,’’, I humbly and formally declare my intention to run for a second term in office so that I can do more for our state and its people. By the grace of God and with your mandate, we intend to accelerate the development of our state when re-elected for a second term in office.’’