By Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
A few days ago, precisely on Friday
the 14th of November,2014 a group of friends, associates, colleagues and
admirers cutting across all ages, ethnic, social, religious, political and
geographical divides presented to me the Expression of Interest and Nomination
forms for me to participate in the presidential primaries of the All
Progressive Congress (APC) for the 2015 Presidential Election.
Let me state that the 14th November
event was neither an accidental nor sudden happenstance, rather it was another
high point of similar goodwill surprises I had experienced in the last two
years when I started receiving in audience, colleagues, individuals, groups and
delegations of prominent Nigerians on this subject matter
I wish to seize this occasion to
commend, most highly, these patriotic and selfless colleagues, admirers,
individuals and groups for their sacrifice, diligence and single-mindedness in
the pursuit of what they honestly believe is in the best interest of our
fatherland. I am fully aware of the physical, financial and intellectual
resources all of you have expended in this regard besides the sheer volume of
valuable time and the travel risk of crisscrossing to compare notes and confirm
projections. Indeed I can not thank you enough.
When upon genuine conviction I
decided to commence extensive consultations towards taking a decision as to
whether or not to participate in the contest for the office of President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was not to actualize a personal ambition, but
rather to actualize our dream for a new Nigeria
Ever since news of the possibility of
my participation in the presidential contest got into the public domain, it has
generated monumental interest, analyses and commentary. I have also, both
personally and through prominent leaders across party lines and beyond,
consulted extensively and I must say that I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of
support and interest. On my part and with the greatest sense of modesty and
responsibility I wish to assure Nigerians that I am fully prepared, ready,
willing, determined, available and armed with the requisite plans, programmes
and ability, to undertake the great mission of rescuing our dear country from
the clutches of institutionalized corruption, gross incompetence, greed and
divisiveness. I am prepared for the great task of rescuing Nigeria
Given the opportunity, ours would be
a clean, corrupt-free, competent and purposeful government: to deal with the
inexplicable paradoxes that have held us hostage for over a hundred years: the
paradox of ever growing abject poverty in the midst of plenty; the paradox of
ever growing menace of corruption in the face of the collective capacity of
Nigerians to eradicate same, the paradox of decaying infrastructure especially
epileptic power supply in the face of abundant natural resources; the paradox
of glaring internal insecurity in the face of a gallant military, police and
other security agencies that have excelled in peace keeping and enforcement
abroad. Indeed a government that would deploy extraordinary ways and means
where such becomes inevitable within the ambit of the law.
*Tambuwal and Obasanjo
(pix: vanguard)
The problems I speak about are real
and glaring. Over the past three and a half years of presiding over 359 equals,
I often had occasion to discuss peculiar constituency problems with my
colleagues but most importantly I have visited over 300 hundred Federal
constituencies across the country and seen for myself abject poverty of our
people particularly the majority of the population that reside in the rural
areas, I have experienced, first hand, total absence of essential social facilities
and decaying infrastructure, where they exist at all, and observed hopelessness
in the eyes of millions of citizens. I deeply feel the pulse of dejection of
our people.
I am convinced that with the
progressive spirit and teamwork these objectives are attainable under an All
Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
I have carefully considered the
concerns expressed by some of our leaders, whom I deeply respect and whose
support and counsel I enjoy, to the effect that my entry into the presidential
race at this point may necessitate having to rework some equations on the
political chessboard of the party.
Having consulted widely, taking into
consideration the concerns of some elders of the party, I have decided to
suspend my participation in the presidential contest for now. I have done so as
a sacrifice for the cohesion and unity of the APC. I am suspending my
participation in the presidential race for now because I do not have any
inordinate ambition to occupy any office. Nigeria
APC Leaders: Onu, Tinubu, Akande, Buhari, Atiku
(pix: Tribune)
I came into the APC to enhance and
build. Therefore in the interest of our great party, the APC, and indeed in the
overriding national interest I wish to appeal to all my associates, colleagues,
supporters, admirers and friends nationwide to show some understanding. It has
not been easy coming to this decision and I very well understand the
frustration, disappointment and disbelief of many who have committed so much to
the project including sacrificing not only their physical, financial and
intellectual resources but indeed their personal ambitions in the 2015 electoral
contest.
I pledge my loyalty to our party the
APC and cooperation with my uncles and senior brothers and colleagues who are
already in the race for the APC Presidential ticket: I refer to General
Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,
Governor Rochas Okorocha and Mr. Sam Ndah- Isaiah. There is no doubt that they
are all eminently qualified.
To all my associates, colleagues,
friends, admirers across Nigeria Nigeria
God bless you all and may God bless
the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Speaker, House Of Representatives,
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