Buhari: my plan for Nigeria

Gen. Buhari displaying the party’s manifesto...last night

With yesterday’s emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the stage seems set for a major battle on February 14, next year.

President Goodluck Jonathan was returned by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja early yesterday. He was the only aspirant.

Dr. Jonathan immediately named Vice President Namadi Sambo as his running mate.

The APC is yet to name Gen. Buhari’s runing mate.

Gen. Buhari’s victory elicited celebration at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos Mainland venue of the colourful convention.

The former Head of State scored 3,430 of the total 5,992 votes cast.

Kano State Govenor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso got 974 votes, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar got 954 votes, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha had 624.

There was a huge ovation when the 10 votes scored by publisher San Nda-Isaiah was announced. He brought the rear in the contest.

Atiku congratulated Gen. Buhari even before the completion of vote counting. In a tweet, Atiku said: “Congratulation Gen. Buhari. The delegates have spoken, you fully deserve the victory.” He signed the tweet with his initial AA.

His acceptance of the result was reinforced with a statement from his media office tittled “My word is my bond”, also released before the end of counting. Atiku pledged to support the standard bearer.

The primary was monitored by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.

Following Gen. Buhari’s emergence as the APC flag bearer, sources said that the Presidency and the PDP national leadership were jittery. Many PDP chieftains close to the President made phone calls to reporters to know the likely winner. A Lagos PDP chieftain said: “We in the PDP have been keeping vigil too. The President and all our leaders are interested in knowing the results. We know there will be a great contest now in 2015.”

APC national leaders, who came from the six geo-political zones, were in one accord at the event presided over by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. They included the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Sokoto State governorship candidate, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Chief Bisi Akande, Prince Tony Momoh, Senator Abba Bukar Ibrahim, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Adamu Aliero, Mr. Audu Ogbeh and Senator Atiku Baguda.

APC governors stormed the stadium in grand style, waving the brooms as they moved round the venue to welcome delegates. They included Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (Lagos State), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregebsola (Osun), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara), Tanko al-Makura (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), and Kashim Shettima (Borno).

Other chieftains included Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo, his Lagos State counterpart, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori,  former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola,  Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Dr. Tahiru Maman, Borno State House of Assembly Speaker Hon. Abdulkareem Lawal, his Lagos State counterpart, Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji, Kano State House of Assembly Speaker Isiaku Ali, House of Representatives Minority Leader Hon. Femi  Gbajabiamila, Senators Bukola Saraki, Ajayi Boroffice, Oluremi Tinubu, Ganiyu Solomon, Mudashiru Hussein, Sola Adeyeye, Babafemi Ojudu, Mr. Wale Edun, Hon. Wale Osun, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Princess Sarah Sosan, Hon. Danladi Bako, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, Hon. James Faleke, and Dr. Hassan Lawal.

There were also Senator Sani Yerima, Kwara State Deputy Governor Peter Kisira, former Kwara State Governor Shaba Lafiagi, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Dr. Chris Ngige, Chief Oyewole Fasawe,  Mrs. Aisa Al-Hassan, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Senator Julius Ocha, Enugu State governorship aspirant Okey Ezea, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Senator Kabiru Gaya, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Senator Tony Adefuye, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Senator Obange Domingo, Magnus Abe, Ibrahim Musa, Alkali Jajere, Babajide Omoworare, Jubrilla Bindow, and Senator George Akume. Senator John Udoedehe, Mrs. Rachel Akpabio and Musa Gwadabe.

At 11 pm on Wednesday, the event kicked off, following the opening prayers by Senator Olabiyi Durojaye, a party elder from Ogun State, and National Secretary Bala Mala. The Master of Ceremony was House of Representatives member Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.  The all-night event continued till last night. The highlights included the adoption of the party constitution amendment, the unveiling of the APC General Elections Manifestos by Odigie-Oyegun,  a 10-minute speech by each of the five aspirants and the explanation of the voting procedure by the Planning Committee Chairman and former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.