Buhari, others seek votes for Obaseki

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the nation would soon be out of economic recess and become great again.

President Buhari disclosed this in Benin, Edo State, during the grand rally of the All Progressives Congress for the governorship election scheduled to hold in the state on Saturday.

The event, which was held under tight security at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, was witnessed by APC governors, former and servicing National Assembly members, leaders of the party, including the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and serving ministers.

Present at the rally were Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the governors of Lagos, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kogi, Adamawa, Niger, Plateau, Kebbi and Jigawa states.

Also present were the deputy governors of Edo, Benue and Ogun, a former Governor of Adamawa, Murtala Nyako, and an ex-Governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor.

Buhari, who had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Edaiken N’Uselu and crown prince of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Eheneden Erediauwa, where he extolled the contributions of the departed Oba of Benin, noted that the youths have a critical role to play in uniting the nation.

He said, “We are a nation of great human and natural resources, especially the youths. Please, sit down, reflect and remember what I said 30 years ago. We have no other nation like Nigeria. We must all remain and salvage it together.

“I assure you we are going to get out of our economic doldrums. We are almost out of our insecurity problems and we are going to make Nigeria great again. We are going to be very proud of our country once again and our resources will not be for nothing; we will continue to be.”

While endorsing the candidate of the APC, Godwin Obaseki, the president described him as a man of experience.

He also commended the incumbent governor for the rehabilitation and building of schools and roads in the state.

“I congratulate Mr. Obaseki, a seasoned person. I assure you and I recommend him to you, so that you will continue to grow. You have a credible team,” Buhari added.

The national chairman described the forthcoming election as a day for the voters to take a decision on the future of the state.

Odigie-Oyegun, who noted that Obaseki had been found worthy and competent by the national leadership of the party, stated that voters had the decision to choose between the performance of the APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

”It is not done yet. Let us learn to appreciate when somebody performs. Let us learn to say thank you when somebody performs.

“Let us not be guided in our decision on September 10 by anything but what we can see with our own eyes,” he added.

Oshiomhole described the “Change the Change” slogan of the PDP as an attempt to return the state to underdevelopment.

According to him, the opposition party denied the citizenry the dividends of democracy when it governed the state from 1999 to 2007.

On his part, Obaseki explained that his decision to contest the election was inspired by the emergence of President Buhari as the winner of the 2015 presidential poll.

The APC candidate noted that the opposition party failed to provide critical infrastructure during its 10 years in government in the state.

He, however, promised to construct more roads, schools and provide economic empowerment for the youths and women, through the creation of 200,000 jobs.