Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described the emergence of former Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a sign that Nigerians are hungry for change.
“We must congratulate Nigerians for the emergence of Gen Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate of our party. The excitements, commendations and jubilations that have greeted the election and consequently the announcement of Gen Muhammadu Buhari are clear demonstrations of the fact that Nigerians have been anxious and now poised for an immediate change in Nigeria,” Aregbesola was quoted as saying after the presidential primaries of the APC in Lagos, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.
“It is clear now that Nigerians are determined to jettison their religious, tribal, partisan and other mundane interests to rally support for our candidate. Gen Muhammadu Buhari, I can confidently say, is not just the candidate of the All Progressives Congress but the popular choice of entire Nigerians,” he said.
The governor reminded Nigerians of the urgent need to fix the country, noting that the outcome of the primary election itself confirmed that the APC has taken transparency, the fight against corruption and graft to a new height.
“People have chosen the best man for the job regardless of all other less edifying considerations. Buhari represents the face of the required battle against corruption. He represents openness and commitment to good governance. For those who consider the awful impact of corruption on our country, the choice of Gen Buhari would easily translate to the readiness of Nigerians to battle against the most debilitating scourge against the country’s growth,” Aregbesola said.
He acknowledged that there are myriads of challenges an APC government at the center would face, especially after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party, which has spelt economic doom, political complications and social morass.
“We have witnessed the most horrendous crimes against the soul of this country. There has been a mindless rape of the country by a gang of looters who have made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of other nations.
“There is needless hunger in a country with many untapped opportunities. All the critical sectors have been bled to states of coma and what we have left as a country is fractured entity gasping for breath.
“With the election of General Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians are assured that a new Nigeria is possible,” he added.
Being the presidential candidate is just the beginning. Let the campaign begin! Campaign on land, campaign on sea, campaign in cities, campaign in towns, campaign in villages, campaign wherever there are people in Nigeria! The campaign needs to be vigorous, relentless until the day of the presidential election. The theme of the campaign needs to be eradication of corruption from Nigeria.