₦airaland Forum

Cc; lalasticlala, Mynd44 Fp

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The 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of never being a successful businessman.

In a statement from his media office in Abuja on Tuesday, Atiku said, “The open, democratic and free and fair election (something alien to the APC, according to Buhari’s own wife) on Sunday of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, as the Presidential candidate for the PDP has clearly left the APC in a state of panic and confusion.

“On Sunday, the Buhari Campaign Organisation launched the first weak salvo. And on Monday, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary unleashed his own knee-jerk reaction, accusing Atiku of being desperate.

“Our response to the APC is to ask who is desperate between a Muhammadu Buhari who said, ‘If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood’ and an Atiku Abubakar who said, ,‘Love and peace should not only be preached, but must also be put into practice for the sake of sustaining the peace in our land’?

“It is left for Nigerians to judge, but even a blind person can see that Nigeria has been ‘soaked in blood’ ever since she was unfortunate enough to have fallen under the leadership of a man whose words are destructive and never productive.”

In his response to the APC’s demand for Atiku’s scorecard in public office, the statement said, “Some of Atiku Abubakar’s achievements as Nigeria’s Vice President are that as head of the National Council of Privatisation, he superintended over the GSM revolution that saw Nigeria go from 50,000 to 100 million GSM lines, has added 500,000 direct jobs to the Nigerian economy and attracted $27bn to our GDP. Our question to President Buhari and the APC is how many jobs have they created?

“Another of Abubakar’s achievements is the successful privatisation of many public enterprises that hitherto consumed government resources without yielding a profit. In response, we ask President Buhari how many loopholes in public expenditure has he plugged? The spectacular failure of the 419 Nigeria Air is still fresh in the memory of Nigerians.

“Finally, the APC spokesman had the guts to question His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar’s source of wealth.

“We wish to remind APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, that Atiku Abubakar is not like President Buhari who has never run a successful private business throughout his life.

“Unlike Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar is an expert job creator who has founded many successful and thriving businesses including the American University of Nigeria, Yola; a microfinance bank that has moved 45,000 families out of poverty and Rica Gado, a livestock feed company that has significantly reduced instances of herdsmen/farmers clashes by providing a business-friendly solution instead of asking Nigerians to give up their lands for cattle ranching or face death, as the Buhari government did.”

The statement added that unlike President Buhari, Atiku does not believe Nigerian youths are lazy. “How could he when 25,000 out of his 50,000 employees are youths,”? he asked.

It urged the Buhari Presidency and the APC to mention even one successful private endeavour that the President had successfully run.

“And by private enterprises, we are not referring to 150 cows that never increase in number, year in year out,” the statement added.

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/buhari-hasnt-run-any-successful-business-atiku/

Newsloft:
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Fp lalasticlala

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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Sam Nkire, has noted that emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s presidential candidate in 2019 general election has changed the political climate in the country.

In an interview yesterday Nkire noted that with Atiku stepping into the political ring, there is no need telling the ruling-All progressives Congress (APC) that the game is up.

He maintained that the former vice president’s emergence as PDP’S flag-bearer, had in the last few hours, had an effervescent effect on the political climate of the world’s largest black nation. Nkire, who only recently defected from the APC to the PDP, noted that the wide gap between Atiku Abubakar and his closest rival was an indication of the huge acceptance he had in the party and by implication, Nigeria, adding that the PDP was inarguably the largest political party in the country, if not the African continent.

He congratulated Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over his emergence as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for 2019, adding, “Atiku is one of the few capable leaders Nigeria has been waiting for. Atiku is focused and courageous and has got a plan in his hands

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/atiku-will-give-apc-good-fight-in-2019/

finally chaii

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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said that late Hon. Funke Adedoyin, who passed on recently will be sorely missed by her colleagues.

The speaker said this while signing the condolence register, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Dogara described her as a committed member of the House, who contributed immensely to committee assignments, debates in plenary and other legislative issues.

He prayed that God will grant her soul eternal rest and give her family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Dogara said: “We had to adjourn the Sitting in order to mourn the passing of our sister and colleague, Hon. Funke Adedoyin.

“She was a wonderful person, as some of you journalists would attest, who contributed immensely in the proceedings of the House of Representatives. She was a committed member on the floor of the House when health challenges permitted.


“She was a very cerebral contributor, a very effective politician in debates and issues in the House and I cannot be more proud to have had her as a colleague and as a member of the House of Representatives.

“We will sorely miss her. At this point in time, our thoughts and prayers are with her immediate family for God to give them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and may her gentle soul rest in peace.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the House held special prayer in her honour and had adjourned sitting to Wednesday October 10.

Until her death, Adedoyin who once served as Minister of state for Health represented Irepodun Isin/ Ekiti /Oke Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara state.

Adedoyin, the daughter of a National industrialist, Chief Samuel Adedoyin, died on Friday, September 28, after a brief illness.

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/yakubu-dogara-late-funke-adedoyin-will-be-sorely-missed-by-colleagues/

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A former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed the fear that the 2019 presidential election may not be free with President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military man, now leading the country.

He said unlike former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in power during the 2015 general elections and was “much more level-headed” being a “peaceful, (and) very patriotic Nigerian,” the country was now dealing with “a retired general, (who is) very uncompromising, also power-drunk; (and) who will not be ready to leave power without a fight.”

An AFP report quoted Atiku, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, as saying on Monday evening that these were “some of my fears for the current elections.”

“The characters that are involved this time, as far as the leadership of this country is concerned, are different from 2015,” he said.

Atiku also tasked Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) to explain to Nigerians the decision by the Federal Government to share $322m Abacha’s loot and also begged for a fresh $328m loan from China.


The new loan is said to be for Information and Communications Technology development.

Atiku was reacting to Osinbajo’s response to the former Vice President’s reaction to the need to restructure the country.

Atiku accused Osinbajo of not being coherent in his arguments, saying he was merely jumping from one topic to the other.

He said, “I must say that his dovetailing into the area of the economy does not explain certain facts such as the fact that the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics reported in December 2017 that Nigeria lost 7.9 million jobs in the 21 month period under review.

“If the Vice President cannot see that losing 7.9 million jobs in 21 months while creating 500,000 jobs is a deficit, then I do not know what to say to the honourable professor.

“Professor Osinbajo also harps on ‘prudence in public finance,’ but he fails to show the wisdom in sharing out $322m of Abacha funds to the poor only to take a loan of $328m from the Chinese the very next month. Many Nigerians, myself included, see this as imprudence.


“Finally, while the Vice President is not exactly correct when he says ‘In four years from 2010 to 2014, the PDP government earned the highest oil revenues in Nigeria’s history, $381.9bn. By contrast, the Buhari administration has earned $121bn from May 2015 to June 2018’, let us for the sake of argument say that he is right.”

Atiku further said that while he was the Vice President in 2006, Nigeria’s Economic Management Team, of which he was a prominent member, paid off Nigeria’s entire foreign debt of $30bn, at a time when he said the country was earning one third of what the Buhari administration is currently earning from oil. So, such arguments are puerile at best.

He advised the Vice President to choose whether he was for restructuring or whether he was against it and stick to his choice.

He said it was not in the interest of the professor of law to be jumping from one argument to the other without any clear point.


He rejected Osinbajo’s assertion that his (Atiku’s ) ideas on restructuring were vague, saying restructuring was a necessity, not an option.

In a statement he signed in Abuja on Tuesday, he accused Osinbajo of making a U-turn on the issue of restructuring.

The former Vice President said of Osinbajo, “Faced with an avalanche of public condemnation for his 360-degree turn on the concept of restructuring, it is understandable that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has written to Premium Times to douse the tension his comments created. However, in doing so, the Vice President should not attempt to revise history by saying that he spoke against ‘geographic restructuring.’

“I have been in the forefront of the discourse on restructuring since the 1995 Abacha Constitutional Conference and to the best of my knowledge, there has not been any term like ‘geographic restructuring’.

“It is a strange concept, not only because it is not what the restructuring debate is all about, but also because the words of the Vice President, which prompted my response, were clear, unambiguous and unequivocal.

“Mr Osinbajo said, ‘the problem with our country is not a matter of restructuring.’ That I disagree with and so do many other Nigerians. If the Vice President has changed his stance, I welcome it, but we should not use one finger to hide behind semantics.

“For the Vice President to say ‘Alhaji Atiku’s concept of restructuring is understandably vague, because he seeks to cover every aspect of human existence in that definition’, is most unfortunate.

“I have been very clear, detailed, and unambiguous about my ideas for restructuring. At several occasions, including, but not limited to my speeches at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), and at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (made in April this year and July 2017, respectively), I gave very clear and concise ideas about restructuring including: “Devolution of powers and resources to the states; matching grants from the Federal Government to the states to help them grow their internally generated revenue position; privatisation of unviable Federal Government-owned assets.”

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/buhari-uncompromising-power-drunk-says-atiku/

[quote author=LuciferKristi post=70872800][/quote]you drunk pamii

[quote author=LuciferKristi post=70872800][/quote]you drunk pamii

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Former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar’s presidential aspiration got a boost on Monday, with the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) endorsing him.


Atiku Abubakar in Minna on Saturday: Lagos PDP declares support for his aspiration on Monday
Prince Muiz Dosunmu, Secretary of PDP in Lagos, said that delegates from Lagos State are well aligned with the objectives of Atiku.

Dosunmu, who spoke on behalf of the state executive of the party during Atiku Abubakar’s consultative meeting with the state stakeholders said: “Lagos PDP is set to follow a leader who knows the trenches. Your Excellency Atiku Abubakar knows the pathway and we are ready to follow you.”

Also, a former minister and chieftain of the PDP from Lagos State, Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu while announcing that he was representing PDP chieftain, Chief Olabode George said that Atiku towers above all the other aspirants, and has the capacity to lead the opposition party to victory in the 2019 presidential election.

“The PDP in Lagos State believes in Atiku and the large turn out here today is an open testament that Lagos PDP is for Atiku. We are for you here (in Lagos) and we strongly believe in your capacity to lead our great party to victory,” Ogunkelu said.

The only member of the PDP in Lagos State House of Assembly, Dipo Olorunrinu, said that Lagos PDP stands united with Atiku on his presidential bid.

“Lagos PDP is here today (Monday) and we are speaking with one voice that we shall stand with you on this journey. All my leaders have openly endorsed Your Excellency (Atiku) and the matter is already determined”, Olorunrinu said.



Atiku, who was at the state party secretariat in company of Director General of his presidential campaign organization, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had earlier said that he was in Lagos State to solicit for support of PDP delegates in the state in his bid for the ticket of the party.

He remarked that should the leaders of the PDP in Lagos State give him an opportunity to fly the flag of the party in the 2019 presidential election, he would win Lagos State for the PDP.

“In 2003 I led the campaign of the PDP in the Southwest that made it possible for our party to win all but one state in the Southwest from the Alliance for Democracy. I promise you that if you give me that opportunity again, I will not only win the presidency for our party, but also all the states in the Southwest including Lagos. I did it before and I can do it again,” Atiku said.

He noted further that the ruling All Progressives Congress has made living difficult for a large number of Nigerians and that his main objective if given the opportunity to become president in 2019 is massive jobs creation and redirecting the economy of Nigeria to prosperity.

“These (creating jobs and managing the economy) are things that I have done before and I am still well-wired to do them again”, he said.

Other dignitaries on Atiku’s delegation to the Lagos PDP secretariat meeting included Senator Abdul Ningi and former ministers, Dubem Onyia and Godsday Orubebe.

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/lagos-pdp-boosts-atikus-presidential-aspiration/

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) says no fewer than 3,089 cases of sexual and domestic violence were reported in the state in the past eight months.

The State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, made the disclosure on Monday in Lagos at a news conference commemorating “The Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Month’’.


Theme of 2018 is: “Securing the Home against Violence: Everyone’s Responsibility.”

Kazeem said that the figure was over 200 per cent increase compared to last 2017 figure of 1,044.

The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry for Justice, Mrs Funmilola Odunlami, also said that seven people were convicted during the period under review.


“From January to August 2018, DSVRT received 3,089 reported cases. This indicates that the number of reports has doubled since 2017 when DVSRT handled a total of 1044 cases for the entire year.

“From January till August, 2018, the Team handled 1,037 cases in the office: 939 Domestic Violence cases, 245 Child Abuse, 40 defilement cases 22 rape cases, 13 cases of attempt to commit Rape and Sexual Assault by penetration.

“Also, 10 sexual assault by penetration and 48 other cases were also recorded. We have started to see an average of 150 new cases monthly,’’ Kazeem said.


He said that there had also been reported cases through the 6820 USSD platform, which was commissioned in 2017, to facilitate the swift reporting of incidents of Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence and Child Abuse.

“From Jan. 1, 2018 till date, DSVRT has received 2,052 reports via the 6,820 short-code.

“ A total of 718 actual cases were reported. Hence, DSVRT has responded to 357 reports of domestic violence, 195 reports of Sexual Abuse and 166 reports of child abuse, all reported via the 6,820 platform.


“What is most exciting about the platform is that it breaks the initial barrier of people not wanting to make a formal report at an office or police station.

“We are now able to interact directly with survivors and concerned witnesses and take vital steps in dealing with a case,” he said.

Kazeem said that the team had also given a stronger focus on children who had witnessed intimate partner violence in 2018.


According to him, a total of 1,187 children have been exposed to domestic violence within the home.

“Some of these children have been taken through counselling programmes to ensure they are able to psychologically deal with the events they have witnessed without it having a permanent and negative impact on them,” he said.

The attorney-general said that the trends from the data revealed a steady increase in men coming forward to report cases of domestic violence.


He said: “As at August 2018, a total of 103 men came forward to report. This implies about 10 per cent of cases handled this year so far were reported by men.

“We have also witnessed an increase in reporting of cases via telephone and walk ins from other states, mostly from Ogun, Oyo and have referred such cases to the relevant agencies in the states.’’

He said that the Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership (LPILP) provided free legal assistance to 52 of the survivors of the Domestic Violence, ranging from judicial separation, divorce, custody of children, mediation and settlement.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government has dedicated every month of September to boosting the campaign against sexual violence-related activities and abuse in homes.

[b]GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/lagos-records-3089-cases-of-sexual-domestic-violence-in-8-months/

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change of taste

yemmight:
The same APC the idiot has been since. The truth about this election is that, if those coming out now are those we seeing, we should just kwantinue with Baba go slow and steady.

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Six governors of the All Progressives Congress may be heading for a collision course with the leadership of the party over their alleged rejection of the direct primary option to elect candidates of the APC at all levels ahead of the 2019 general elections.

A source, who is a chieftain of the party, told our correspondent on Thursday that the six governors, on Wednesday night, met with the Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and held a private discussion with him on the issue ahead of today’s meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party.

The source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, explained that two of the governors who met Oshiomhole are from the North Central, one from the North West, and one each from the South East, South West and North East.

The party chief said, “They told Oshiomhole that they were opposed to direct primary election. All of them, except the governor from the North East, said they have problems with their people and that there is a possibility that they and their candidates may not get the party’s ticket if they should embrace the direct primary election.

“They also expressed fears that the APC may lose their states if the party adopts the direct primary approach to pick the candidates.”


The source however said that, “The APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole was firm and resolute on the issue.”

According to him, Oshiomhole told the governors that President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu are also in full support of direct primary.

The source said that the governors therefore threatened that they may not allow direct primaries in their state and that they would restate their position at today (Thursday’s) NEC meeting of the party.

“Oshiomhole told them that if they will not allow direct primary, the party will write INEC and send the list of aspirants who are ready for the election. You can see that the battle line has been drawn as they have vowed to restate their stand at the NEC of the meeting today,”The source added.

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/breaking-apc-govs-reject-direct-primary-as-nec-meeting-holds/

bro how fa with you and this Buhari movement you no go like find somewhere sit down

sarrki:
Baba is you we know

Sai Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari has charged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to provide the needed leadership and ensure that the party gets its internal dynamics right to ensure “an excellent performance” in the 2019 polls.

Buhari said this in his opening remarks at the National Executive Council meeting of the APC in Abuja on Thursday.

He encouraged party leaders to ensure that decisions taken at the NEC take into account the yearnings and aspirations of party members across the country.

The President observed that the current NEC members assumed duty at a very critical time, especially with the general elections coming very early next year.

Buhari said, “Any political party worth its salt must get its internal dynamics right and march as a team towards a decisive time such as a major election in the country.


“Today, we are meeting to look at some major decisions that will ensure an excellent performance at the polls next year.

“Starting with party primaries at various levels, I urge you all to ensure that decisions taken here are those that will be for the good of the party and meet the yearnings and expectations of our teeming members and supporters nationwide.

“They look up to us for guidance and we must not disappoint or fail them.”

He expressed delight with the way the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee has handled the crisis within the party, especially at the National Assembly.


Buhari said, “Let me congratulate the current leadership of our party, led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The team emerged at a turbulent time when there were rumours and speculations of massive defections in such a way that could rock the very foundation of the party.

“Despite reconciliatory attempts to keep the house together, some members were hellbent on pulling down the roof. They left, threatening to go along with scores of people.

“But due to the work of the new party leadership, their exit barely made a dent on our super structure as they could not muster the figure they had envisaged to cause an upset, particularly in the two chambers of the National Assembly.”

The President said the APC remains in control of the legislature and that the party was daily being boosted by the entry of “quality people.”

This, he said, has rekindled hope in the party, which he said was poised to continue to give the nation quality leadership and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

On the anti-graft war, he said “We will continue to secure the country, fight graft and reposition the economy in such a way that jobs can be provided for our youths and give them a future and hope.

“We will fulfill all the promises we made to Nigerians. We are fulfilling them and will continue to serve with heart and might to build a nation where peace and justice and prosperity shall reign.”

He urged party members acrossthe board to play the game in accordance with the rules, while urging the party leadership to ensure that the forthcoming party primaries are free, fair and credible.

For this to happen, the President noted, the process must comply with provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended); the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/we-must-get-our-internal-dynamics-right-in-order-to-win-buhari/

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Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Thursday formally declared his intention to run for the presidency in the 2019 general elections.


Saraki announced his intention while speaking to youths at an event which held at the Sheraton hotel, Abuja

In his speech, Saraki promised to set the right course for Nigeria.


His full speech below:

1. Let me say, once again, how wonderful it is to see so many talented and purposeful young people at this first edition of the Public Dialogue Series with Political Parties on Youth Candidacy and Party Primaries. Looking at you, I see future leaders who present themselves as capable and worthy to take on the mantle of leadership in this country, and this gladdens my heart.

2. From my interactions with many of you, and with your contemporaries across the country, I can see that we are blessed with a determined generation that stands ready to join with us to power a Nigerian renaissance. The quality of people I see here today affirms my belief that, indeed, you are Not Too Young To Run.


3. I deeply appreciate this opportunity to share some of my ideas about where we are as a nation, as well as the challenges before us as we approach the great decider that is the 2019 General Elections.

4. It is widely acknowledged that ours is a relatively ‘young’ country bursting with tremendous energy, ability and potential. More than 70 per cent of our population is under the age of 40. You are indeed the future of this country. Ordinarily, such a young population would be the envy of many Western countries that are faced with ageing populations, but the dire state of our affairs tarnishes the youthful advantage that we have.

5. Up and down our country today, Nigerians are crying out for succour. Many of our children are hungry. Many people are dying of avoidable or otherwise treatable diseases. Many have fallen below basic living standards, and are now among the 87 million that sealed Nigeria’s position as the country with the highest number of people in extreme poverty. Our young people lack opportunities. The necessary education facilities and system to equip them for the future simply do not exist. We are not creating the jobs needed to usefully engage them in order to grow our economy. And too often, the youth feel shut out, prevented from having any say in the direction of this nation.

6. The harsh conditions of extreme poverty faced by the people, fuels the state of insecurity all over the country. Hunger, lack of education and lack of opportunities push many Nigerians into criminal activities including terrorism. Many of our communities are paralysed with fear – due to incessant communal crises, kidnappings and other social ills, as well as the threat of terrorism. We are failing abysmally to tackle the problems of today and to prepare for the future.

7. Our economy is broken and is in need of urgent revival in order for Nigeria to grow. GDP growth rate has declined. Diversification remains an illusion. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Businesses are shutting down. Jobs are being lost in record numbers, and the capital needed to jumpstart our economy is going elsewhere.

8. Nigeria is perhaps more divided now than ever before. We are increasingly divided along regional, religious and ethnic lines. Nigerians are also divided by class, a festering gulf between the ‘Haves’ and the ‘Have-Nots’. The fault lines of this nation are widening to an alarming degree. We must do something fast, and we must be brave about it.

9. We must ensure the security of lives in Nigeria. As things stand now, no one is safe in this country. No one feels truly safe. We must restore the sanctity of the rule of law and strengthen democratic institutions in order to build a just, fair and equitable society for all. We must rebuild the trust of our people in government. We need a new generation of leaders that are competent, with the capability to rise to the challenges of the 21st century. We must pull this country back together and rebuild, block by block, with dedication and commitment.

10. You will agree with me that this is an urgent task that requires the concerted efforts of each and every one of us. If we look around today, what do we see? What is the condition of our citizens? Where are we as a nation? How are we perceived locally and internationally? Why are we not making the expected progress? Why are we not growing? There is no time to waste. The time is now, to come together to stimulate growth in Nigeria, especially in the national economy.

11. The choice we face in the forthcoming election is either to keep things as they are, or make a radical departure from the old ways. To find a better way of doing things or keep repeating the mistakes of the past. To fix the problems or keep compounding them.

12. It is with all these in mind, and taking account of the challenges that I have outlined, that I have decided to answer the call of teeming youth who have asked me to run for President. Accordingly, I hereby announce my intention to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the coming General Elections in 2019 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). I do so with the firm conviction that I have what it takes to secure inclusive growth for Nigeria and Nigerians.

13. My Plan for Nigeria has inclusion in all aspects of the country’s affairs as a central pillar. Every citizen has the inalienable right to feel a sense of belonging, no matter their background or creed, or what part of the country they come from. No matter who you voted for or what your convictions are, government must work for you.

14. Your generation does not deserve to live in the poverty capital of the world. It is no longer an issue of how we got here, but how do we get out of this situation? I promise you that I will lead the fight and employ every God-given resource available to us in turning things around. I am determined to grow Nigeria out of poverty. We will stimulate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as one of the ways of energising the economy and to create wealth for our people, especially the youth.

15. I want to see the youth play major roles at all levels, not only in government but also in the private sector and indeed in every area of Nigerian life. This will be a government driven by youthful energy, innovation and a pioneering entrepreneurial spirit. Nigerian youth will be given all the opportunities to realise their potential to the full within a national framework that guarantees inclusiveness. For youth who have ideas and capacity, we will make sure that there is funding for their ventures; and we shall build on the Made in Nigeria legislation as part of our job creation drive.

16. My plan is to secure Nigeria by redesigning our national security architecture, while adequately equipping our security agencies to fulfil their primary role of protecting lives and property.

17. I will address our infrastructural deficit through aggressive financing initiatives including mutually beneficial PPP arrangements, regular floating of bonds and other financial instruments, which will ensure stable, adequate and reliable funding to see to the completion of core projects especially road, rail and power.

18. My plan is to protect all Nigerians and defend their constitutional rights and freedoms. I will stand for and uphold at all times the principle of the rule of law, which is the bedrock of democratic governance.

19. Ours will not be a selective fight against corruption. The emphasis will be on strengthening institutions, with a particular focus on deterrence. We cannot afford to compromise our institutions with proxy wars against perceived political opponents. We see the fight against corruption as crucial to Nigeria’s economic development.

20. I offer leadership driven by empathy. Where leaders are responsive to the citizens. Where they know that government cares. We will not be indifferent or turn a blind eye to the real concerns of our people. Every single Nigerian life matters.

21. For me, the leadership we deserve is one that will be a source of pride to all Nigerians, one that will be respected and admired in Africa and around the world. It should be a leadership that can hold its own and stand tall anywhere in the world. That is the type of leadership I offer.

22. As a former two-term Governor and currently President of the Senate by the grace of God, I believe I possess a unique blend of executive and legislative experience to push for and implement reforms that will deliver real improvements in the daily lives of our people. I know what it takes to create jobs and grow the economy. I can make the tough decisions when it matters. I will spearhead a new agenda that can transform the lives of ordinary Nigerians in real terms.

23. Believe me when I say that it will not be business as usual. This will be a dynamic government of action that will pursue the growth of Nigeria with doggedness, determination and conviction. I will lead a result-driven administration. We shall set targets with clear timelines to ensure that anticipated deliverables are met. You can benchmark us and hold us accountable. In short, I assure you that I will deliver on all promises. What I envision is a new chapter in governance in this country. We will be driven by what is best for Nigerians.

25. I have deliberately chosen the opportunity of being here with you, my Number One constituency who I see as the future of our great country, to make my intention known. I believe the Nigerian youth are critical to rebuilding and growing the economy, and restoring our national pride.

26. I therefore ask you and all well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with me in this noble cause.

My brothers, My sisters, Let’s Grow Nigeria Together.

God bless you all.

GIST VIA - https://nairatrend.com.ng/2019-full-text-of-sarakis-declaration-to-run-for-presidency/