Election: Group urges Nigerians to vote massively for Buhari

Wed, Feb 13, 2019 | By publisher


Politics

A pressure group -Progressives in Academics, has urged Nigerians to come out massively to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari so he can take Nigeria to the next level.
Convener of the ground, Associate Prof. Bolarinwa Bolaji made the call at a news conference in Abuja, on Wednesday.
“The journey has started, we cannot afford to derail. It is the right thing to do and Buhari remains the smartest choice in the race.
“We call on all Nigerians to come out massively to exercise their franchise in the general election and search our minds very well and see to it that only credible people with track records are elected into office.
“Buhari has gotten what it takes to continue in office due to his numerous achievements,” he said.
Bolaji said the organisation was solidly in support of the Buhari-led administration in the fight against corruption.
“If we may refer to what Buhari observed during his presidential campaign in 2015, he expressed concern that corruption was the canker-worm that ate into its fabrics, the economy of Nigeria.
“All other problems we are facing in Nigeria today derive their tentacles from corrupt practices, thereby adversely affecting our infrastructure, education and our social values.
“It is on this premise that we support the Buhari-led government on the drastic step taken so far on the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.
“The beauty of the action taken by Buhari is a testimony to the fact that nobody is above the law,” he said.
He said the action, no doubt, a giant stride in the fight against corruption.
He urged Buhari to expedite action in treating corruption cases.
“He should set up tribunals in all the six geopolitical zones of the country whose membership must comprise of retired justices with impeccable track records.
“They should be made to handle corruption cases in their respectful zones,” he said.
He further urged the president do the needful to discourage incessant strikes in the education sector.
The convener, however, said that the corruption experienced in the 16 year-rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cut across all facets of human endeavors.
This, he said included failure of the administration to provide electricity, thereby forcing multinational companies and industries to relocate from Nigeria to neighbouring Countries.
“The effect of this relocation is unimaginable. Millions of Nigerian working in those organisations lost their jobs.
“On yearly basis, throughout the 16 years of PDP administration, government budgeted huge amount of money for Ajaokuta steel company but the budgets were diverted to the purse of their party members.
“Nigeria Airways became a thing of the past, as the country cannot boast of its own airline; sadly Nigerians patronise airlines such as Ghana Airline, Emirate Airline, Rwanda Airline, Kenyan Airline, and Ethiopian Airline among others.
“We cannot be in a hurry to forget how the then Minister of Aviation mismanaged funds in that sector,” he said.
While enumerating the achievements of Buhari, the convener said through the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the rot in the Power Sector was exposed.
“Equipment worth several millions of dollars which were meant to be used to improve the sector were left at the port for more than 10 years without paying for the equipment in spite of the fact that the money for it had been collected,” he said.
He, however, gave kudos to the president who had approved the payment and the equipment had since been cleared and now in use.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the members of the organisation include professors and other members of academia in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

-NAN

BE

– Feb. 13, 2019 @ 15:55 GMT |

 

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