2015: Kwankwaso declares, says Jonathan incompetent

 L-R: A former Governor of Kogi State, Abukakar Audu; Chief Audu Ogbeh; Kano State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso; and Senator Bukar Abba, during the declaration of Kwankwaso to run for the 2015 presidential election at the old parade ground, in Abuja

 

The Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Tuesday formally declared his interest in vying for the

Presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress.

At a rally held at the Old Parade Ground, in Abuja, the Presidential aspirant during the occasion, cast aspersions on the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party administration, describing it as incompetent.

He observed that Nigerians were today exposed to unimaginable hardship which, he said, was due to the failure of leadership at the highest levels.

Kwankwaso noted that the looting of public funds had gone on unabated because those saddled with the responsibility of watching over the nation’s wealth were busy stealing it.

He also expressed sadness that the welfare of women and children as well as the most vulnerable in society had not been given its pride of place in the scheme of things.

The aspirant commended Nigerian youths for being angry. He said anger in today’s Nigeria was a virtue because those saddled with the responsibility of providing a conducive atmosphere for citizens to achieve their life’s goals had failed in their responsibilities.

The governor hailed the APC for being the only party which had internal democracy.

Kwankwaso 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.”

He also said no matter how difficult, the journey was worth embanking on because the nation was in dire need of salvation.

Kwankwaso said should he get the job, he would concentrate on the restoration of peace and security to the country by defeating the Boko Haram sect.

He said, “Lives and properties of our citizens must be protected and secured. Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency must be defeated. As a government, we cannot afford to live in denial. Insecurity is escalating at an alarming rate.

“Little wonder rag-tag insurgents are taking over cities and towns in the North-East. My experiences as Nigeria’s Defence Minister and as a Special Adviser on war-torn Darfur and Somalia have shown me that securing a nation and fighting and defeating armed insurgents is only achievable if the forces are professionally mobilised, properly kitted and equipped, highly spirited and correctly armed with intelligence and ammunition. My experiences have shown me that technology must be deployed in addition to mobilising and cultivating the support of local communities.”

The aspirant said relegating the welfare of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to the background would only help in compounding the phenomenon.

He maintained that the APC as a party understood all these very well. That was why it was requesting Nigerians to come together and vote for the party.

“Our journey to economic prosperity will always be imperiled if the peace and security of movements of persons and goods cannot be guaranteed. Stopping these menaces does not require rocket science,” he added.

Kwankwaso also promised to give priority to the war against corruption by running a transparent and an all-inclusive government.

He noted that the impunity with which corruption was being perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration left no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government was working deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians.

Nigerians, he said, had a duty to stop such people to save our country.

He also promised to build strong institutions which would take on the anti-graft war without minding whose ox is gored. He reeled out his achievements in various public offices he had held and promised to do better if given the chance.

He also promised to restore Nigeria’s global image through the overhaul of the nation’s foreign policy.

When contacted, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, referred our correspondent to the party’s national publicity secretary.

Calls put through to the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, were neither picked nor replied.

A response to a text message sent to him was being awaited as of the time of filing this report.