By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
Kano state Governor and one of the aspirants seeking to fly the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has vowed to save Nigeria from deteriorating condition if given opportunity to lead the country.
Kwankwaso, who addressed thousands of his supporters in Abuja during his official declaration to seek the APC presidential ticket ahead of the 2015 general elections, said in spite of the general mood of unease deliberately created and being fuelled by the incompetent PDP-led administration, the APC believes that change is achievable.
He said: “The call to save our dear country has never been louder, clearer and more unambiguous than now. Every facet of our national life is deteriorating: governance has been reduced to mediocrity; incompetence and impunity. I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult and arduous. I have no illusion about the enormity of the challenges. But to save our country, we must walk the journey, however difficult.”
In attendance at the event were members of the APC NEC led by the National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, governors of Rivers, Lagos and Zamfara, deputy governors of Borno, Yobe and Kwara, serving and former members of the National Assembly, among many other dignitaries.
The Kano state governor said the first priority of the country “at the moment is to restore peace and security in every corner of the land,” adding that lives and property of Nigerians must be protected and secured, and that Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency must be defeated.
“The second priority of this country, my compatriots, is killing the cancer of corruption that has eaten so deeply into the very fabric of our value system. The impunity with which corruption is being perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration leaves no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government is working deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians.”
On the economy, Kwankwaso said nations “do not build sound economies on insecurity, brigandage and mayhem.”
“Nations do not build responsive economies on a foundation of scandalous corruption and impunity,” he said.
He added: “I, therefore, wish to accept this call and to formally declare my interest to seek for the presidential ticket of our great party the APC in February 2015 general elections. I am offering myself and soliciting the support of all patriotic Nigerians to join Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on this difficult journey to reclaim our country from the clutches of incompetence and destruction and return it onto the pedestal of peace and progress.”
Chairman of the declaration committee, Prince Abubakar Audu, in his welcome address, said the difference is clear when comparing Kwankwaso with other aspirants he has served in many capacities.
Speaking on behalf of APC governors, Rotimi Ameachi said, “Kwankwaso is a good guy,” assuring that APC governors had said it at Gen. Buhari’s declaration that they would support whoever wins the primaries.
Also addressing the crowd, Zamfara state Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, said the APC as a movement was not formed to be an opposition party but to wrestle power from non-performing governments of the day.
