President Muhammadu Buhari has kicked off his re-election campaign with a plea to Nigerians to re-elect him in 2019, primarily to keep fighting the corruption war his administration started in 2015.
Buhari rode to power in 2015 with fighting corruption and restoring security as his major winning points, but four years down the line many Nigerians are not convinced he has scored marks enough on those counts.
The is promising that the provision of infrastructure, rebuilding the economy and sustaining the anti-insurgency war would be re-doubled if given a second opportunity.
The two-part document also showcased the achievements of his administration in the past three years, especially in the provision of infrastructure and tackling insecurity.
The event took place at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President, whose speech was devoted more to corruption, noted that except the county was rid of the problem, it would get nowhere.
It was obvious to perceptible observers that he would still stick to his anti-corruption message in this campaign which officially kick-started on Sunday for he had at most given opportunity highlighted what he calls massive corruption that took place in the country during 16 years tenure of peoples Democratic party before the election that swept him into power.
It remains to be seen if the message will successful this time with many Nigerians sharing the opinion that the fight had been largely selective, as membership of the Ruling All Progressives Congress appears to be all one needs to do to escape or delay justice on that score.
According to Buhari, “To succeed, moral integrity and conscience must continue to form the dominant character of our nation and its leadership.
“Corruption is an existential threat to Nigeria. Despite the gains we have made in closing the gates, we know that there is still much ground to be covered to stop systemic corruption. We are committed to deepening the work we started this past term.
“The nation’s assets and resources will continue to be organised and utilised for the good of the common man.”
The President told Nigerians that they would either leave him in office to fight corruption or allow the county to return to the past.
Buhari added, “The next four years will be quite significant for our country. Nigeria is faced with a choice to keep on building a new Nigeria or to go back to its tainted past, which favoured the opportunistic few.
“Our choices will surely shape us, defining clearly, our economic security and our future prosperity. Nigeria, more than ever before, needs a stable and people-focused government to move the development of our county forward.
“Join us in this journey to the next level, for a strong and stable Nigeria…”
Buhari announced that at least 15 million new jobs would be created in the next phase of his administration if re-elected.
The President called on all candidates and political parties to be peaceful.
He said, “I urge all candidates and supporters of all political parties to go about their campaigns peacefully and decently. As I always say, we have no other country but Nigeria. Let us not set it ablaze because of politics of sectional interestss.”
At the event, selected ministers spoke on the “achievements” of the Buhari administration.
For instance, the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), spoke on road infrastructure, power and housing provisions.
Fashola said work was ongoing on 365 roads. He stated that 244 of the roads were awarded in 2001 and abandoned, adding that Buhari revived them for completion.
The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, praised Buhari for insisting that all the rail projects inherited from the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan were not abandoned.
