ALL Progressives Congress (APC’s) vice presidential candidate Prof.
Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday that Nigerians were fed up of the “failed
promises” of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
He believes that only those comfortable with poverty, hunger and want
to remain jobless will vote for the President’s return next year.
Osinbajo, who was addressing thousands of artisans, tradesmen and
farmers at a town hall meeting organised by the Lagos State in Ikeja,
reiterated that there must be a change of government at the federal
level to liberate Nigerians from poverty.
The former Lagos State attorney General said: “No one is ignorant of
all that is happening to us in this country. No one likes hunger and
poverty; but people are hungry. In 2015, only those who love to continue
to be hungry would prefer that the government in power at the centre
remains there.
“By God’s grace, we would remove them from the seat of power. The
people there presently cannot do anything, because they don’t know how
to. They lack the capacity and capability to govern the country. I pray
for the farmers and artisans that the Lord will bless us in the incoming
year.”
He hailed Governor Babatunde Fashola for his achievements, adding
that he has the best record of achievements among his colleagues.
Also speaking, the state APC flagbearer, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said
the progressives, from the period of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to Fashola, had
continuously provided good governance to Lagosians.
If voted into power, he said, his administration would not deviate from the principle.
He urged Lagosians to vote for the party at the governorship
election as well as its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
His words: “Our promise to you as a party is to provide good
governance and able leadership. We want to take good care of your
businesses. If you have been making N1,000 profit before, we want to
provide the facilities your businesses need to enable your profit swell
to N10, 000.
“We know that when you make more profit, you will have more to take
care of yourself, your children and your home. We promise not to stress
you with our policies.
“I also want to remind you that no matter what we do, if we do not
take over the central government, we may be hindered in a way and may
not be able to provide all that we want to provide for you.
“There must be change of government at the Federal level. APC must take over in Abuja.
“In Lagos, we remember where Tinubu started from and how Governor
Fashola consolidated on his achievements and raised the bar. That is
what we want to continue in Lagos.”
Earlier, Fashola noted that if Nigerians observed and analysed the
country’s situation critically, they would find out that Nigeria is not
better off than it was in 2011.
He enjoined Nigerians to vote for APC at both the governorship and presidential elections, reiterating his support for Ambode.
The governor said the emergence of APC candidates at next year’s
general elections is the only way out of the country’s predicament.
His words: “The time to make a very important decision is here. Your
request for continuity in Lagos is what I support. But for that project
to continue, it would require you to vote for our party in 2015
election.
“If you vote for him, not only will he continue, but will improve on
what I have done. Also, our party has during its primaries elected Gen.
Muhammed Buhari and Prof. Osibajo, if you vote them into power in 2015;
you would have successfully rescued this country from destruction.
“In politics, promises are important and that is why no one should
make promises that they can not fulfill. And that was why we said that
the time for ‘I had no shoe’ is over.
“The president made promises within and outside the country. But
today, those promises are yet to be fulfilled. He promised to reduce the
importation of generator, but today, citizens have bought more
generators than the numbers they bought before 2011.
“He promised to ensure that the country move beyond producing and
exporting crude oil to exporting refined petroleum product because
Nigeria has no reason to import kerosene. But today, we have not moved
beyond where we were in 2011.
“He promised to fight corruption in the country regardless of the
person involved, but the president has refused to release the audit
report of the missing $20 billion on crude oil.
“That is not how to fight corruption. We know that the audit has been
completed. The president is shielding
the report and he must release
the report.
“He is shielding the report because he knows the contents of the
report. These are the issues for the next election and there is no
reason for anyone to engage in violence.”(The Nation)
