By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
In a massive protest to send warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led federal government on the need not only to make sure elections hold in the north-eastern part of the country in 2015, it must also ensure a conduct of free, fair elections, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led thousands of its supporters round major streets in Abuja yesterday.
The rally, tagged: “Salvation Rally,” had in the front National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odiege-Oyegun, former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, among many other leaders.
They defied the scorching sun and led APC supporters from Eagles Square where they gathered through the popular Shehu Shagari Way to the Police Force Headquarters before diverting to other streets.
Earlier, the national chairman had told the gathering of party supporters that the rally was a practical demonstration of lack of confidence in the ability or willingness of President Goodluck Jonathan to organise a free and fair election come February 2015.
He said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is so desperate to win re-election that it will now appear that there is a secret understanding that our security forces should turn a blind eye to the Boko Haram insurgency so that the insurgents can occupy as much territory as possible and make elections impossible in these areas, knowing full well these are APC strongholds.
“Otherwise, how does one explain that local hunters carrying dane guns and amulets are capable of dislodging the dreaded Boko Haram while our once proud army, which has distinguished itself in and out of the country, has failed?
“As a matter of fact, we have it on good authority that as soon as President Goodluck Jonathan obtains the green light from the National Assembly, there will be no elections in the north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. By this singular act, some five million Nigerians will be disenfranchised, making Jonathan’s re-election a foregone conclusion.”
The chairman, therefore, demanded an end to the raging insurgency, impunity, corruption and “an unambiguous effort to ensure that those 2015 elections will be free and fair.”
Also speaking, Buhari said the APC’s concern was the level of performance of the federal government, urging Nigerians to reflect on what the PDP had done in the country from 1999 till date.
Buhari said: “What APC is out to do is to make sure it stabilises the system of multiparty democratic system by voting the PDP out.
“Vote out the PDP next year if you want a secure and efficient Nigeria. You just have to do that. No alternative. Make sure you get your permanent voter cards. Make sure you go and vote people you want to represent you, and make sure your vote counts.”
