The race for the Presidency in the April polls continued yesterday with three presidential candidates taking their campaign trains to Kebbi, Ogun, Oyo and Edo states.
Former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Muhammadu Buhari, defied the order of the Oyo state government by kicking off his South West presidential rally at the ancient Mapo hall in Ibadan.
The use of the hall, at the weekend became a subject of controversy as the management was alleged to have told the CPC leaders that the venue was no longer available as wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan was scheduled to use the place on Tuesday.
But the spokesperson for the Buhari's presidential campaign group,Yinka Odumakin faulted the Oyo state government claim and insisted that the rally would go on as scheduled at Mapo hall.
Although supporters of the CPC as early as 8 a.m. had besieged the venue, its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and other leaders of the party arrived only a few minutes to six.
Addressing the supporters, Buhari deplored the 12 years administration of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country saying the nation has fared worse under its leadership.
To redress the trend, the CPC candidate said Nigerians must vote for change, which his party represents and must be ready to defend their votes to prevent rigging.
Buhari who lamented the infrastructural decay noted that power, potable water and railway had been bastardized and was no longer under the reach of Nigerians.
The former military ruler enjoined the people to monitor their votes right from polling booths to wards, local governments, states and Abuja.
If elected in April, Buhari assured that the nation's resources would be judiciously utilised as every penny would be accounted for.
"Jobs will be made available, foods from rural areas will get to urban areas cheaper while there will be good drinking water so that our children will not contact cholera. We can do all these with the power of God."
He thereafter presented the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, to the crowd.
In his address at the occasion, Buhari's running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare also expressed regrets over the state of the country saying the CPC was out to rescue the country from the PDP.
He said, "For 12 years, we have put cats in charge of fried meat. But now, God is ready to chase them away. Light has come, darkness must disappear. Today, Pastor Adeboye has prayed for us. The Alake of Egbaland, the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Osile of Oke Ona Egba have all given us the go-ahead."
Bakare said the CPC would re-write the history of the country in addition to making true federalism its priority.
President Goodluck Jonathan went on a campaign tour of Kebbi State, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate, Ibrahim Shekarau, was in Edo State for the same purpose. Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, also visited Abeokuta in Ogun State on his campaign tour.
President Jonathan yesterday got an unquantifiable endorsement from traditional rulers in Kebbi State, led by the Emir of Gwandu, Maj.-Gen Mohammed Illyasu Bashar as part of his campaign tour of the State.
The Emir told President Jonathan in his palace in Birnin-Kebbi: "We are behind you. We are for peace and unity of this country. We are for peace and development and I think that is what you have put as your focus."
Shekarau, who paid a courtesy visit on Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole at the Government House, Benin City commended the governor for his commitment to credible elections through the 'one man one vote' campaign.
He said: "Our concern, which we believe is your concern as well, is to ensure that we have free, fair and credible election. I must congratulate you, your Excellency for being at the vanguard of one man one vote, the ingredient of free, fair and credible election, without which our democratic process may not be sustained.
"We want to assure you that our party is committed to the effort at ensuring that every vote counts and that only one man one vote should be allowed to exist.
"Your party and mine and several others out there are committed to changing things in this country and we are determined to let Nigerians know that we are the alternative to what PDP is giving us which is total failure in the last 12 years."
In Ogun State, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, canvassed support for Buhari, insisting that the retired General has all the qualities to rescue Nigeria from its current plight.
Oba Gbadebo, who spoke at his Ake, Abeokuta Palace, stated that Buhari "is a simple, honest and sincere man."
To prove his point, the king who described Buhari as "my former boss in the Army" said while Buhari was the Military Head of State, he had the opportunity of promoting himself but he did not "and this confirms that he is not a man who pursues personal agenda."
The Alake recalled that during Buhari's regime the exchange rate of the dollar to the naira was 75 kobo. The dollar now exchanges for N150 to the dollar. He stressed: "For the sake of this country we should give him (Buhari) an opportunity to come back to the saddle."
In his speech, Buhari stated that if elected, his administration would ensure that leaders at all levels rendered account to the people.
He said: "Every kobo that goes to the treasury is for the people hence it would be accounted for. We would revive the air, sea, road and railway transportation systems. We would also give serious attention to security and power."
Buhari, who arrived the Palace with his running mate, Pastor Tunde Bakare at 2.04.p.m., told Oba Gbadebo that he was on his way to Ibadan, Oyo State and felt it would be out of place if he failed to call on the monarch before going to that state.
Bakare in his brief remark told the audience that the April elections were between the "honest and dishonest, promise breakers and promise keepers, the experienced and the lucky ones, the corrupt and incorruptible".
Bakare stressed that he was convinced that working with Buhari would bring great blessings to the country, saying that Buhari was such a honest man that since he joined him, the former Head of State had not hidden anything from him.
Buhari had earlier paid a similar courtesy call on the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. He also called on the Osile Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso at his palace before he and his entourage departed for Ibadan for his presidential campaign rally.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has eulogized the people of Kebbi State for their qualities of transparency and integrity, saying this was why he appointed one of their own, Prof. Attahiru Jega, as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to superintend over the April general elections.
He stated this today while addressing the PDP presidential campaign rally at the Haliru Abdu stadium in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
While expressing admiration at the large turn-out and magnitude of support received from Kebbi indigenes at the rally, President Jonathan said Kebbi State continues to provide eminent Nigerians who are partnering with the Federal Government to move the country forward.
"God has provided people from this state that the Federal Government has made use of.
Apart from the President, one person whose name resounds again and again is your own son, Prof. Attahiru Jega. If I don't have confidence in the people of Kebbi, I wouldn't have appointed your own son, Prof. Jega, to supervise an election in which I would participate and which we all want to be free and fair.
"I believe that he would do the right thing, he would not rig or manipulate any election to favour anybody. So, the Federal Government and Kebbi people are indeed partners in progress."
Source: Buhari says Nigeria worse than 12 years ago (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41666:buhari-says-nigeria-worse-than-12-years-ago&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)