SAN FRANCISCO, November 13, (THEWILL) – The National Chairman Of The All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Thursday, said the party is programmed to create a new Nigeria in which all citizens will be proud.
“With your overwhelming support and the free expression of your will, represented by your votes, the All Progressives’ Congress will by the grace of God next year commence the challenging but necessary process of charting a more secure and more prosperous future for us all,” Odigie-Oyegun said a media briefing to announce the programme of activities of the party toward the 2015 general elections as well as the party’s manifestoes.
“Armed with your mandate, we will raise the standards of governance and condition of living of all citizens to levels which all Nigerians deserve as of right. We will stop the rot and the descent to uncertainty and disaster which the 16 years of PDP misrule has plunged us to as a nation. We will restore to Nigerians the hope and assurance that our nation can be made whole again, and that our leaders will submit themselves to the will and needs of our people.”
According to the APC National Chairman, “In the next few weeks, our candidates for all elective positions in the February 2015 elections will emerge. Our party will conduct all processes for the selection of these candidates in strict and transparent compliance with our rules, and we will put forward candidates who will truly represent the people and work for a future full of hope, confidence, progress and peace.
“We have no doubt that Nigerians will vote for these candidates we will put up, because they will be agents of change, and they will be standing against agents of the status quo, who want to perpetuate this culture of deceit, divisiveness, incompetence and impunity that has continued to hold Nigeria back.”
Expressing optimism of winning the 2015 general elections, the APC Chairman said:” In a few months, our great party will make history. It will defeat an incumbent administration at the federal level, and secure most of the governorships and federal and state legislatures.
“It will then proceed to change the way our nation is governed, by restoring the valued requirements of governance, which are rooted in supremacy of the law, integrity and competence of leaders, and compassion and fairness in the treatment of the people. Our party stands united and confident in its ability to lead Nigeria to a new beginning.”
On what the party will do after winning the elections, Odigie-Oyegun said: “Once in office, our party will govern with openness and transparency, and every kobo belonging to the public will be judiciously utilised and meticulously accounted for. We will call corruption by its name and fight it with the vehemence it deserves. We will restore the faith of the public in the necessity for leaders to live honestly and lead with vision, competence and compassion.
“Our Party will collaborate and cooperate with the states in the true practice of a Federal relationship. We shall run an all-inclusive government and seek the views of all segments including the positive ideas of opposition parties in the formulation and execution of government policies.
“An APC administration will rebuild and expand infrastructure; invest in human capital, particularly the Youth; deploy resources to provide jobs and employment opportunities and get our economy working again for all Nigerians. We shall work for the inclusive growth and development of our economy through massive job creation programs to ensure the reduction of poverty and the protection of the weak.
“An APC Federal administration will unite all Nigerians by eliminating policies and sentiments such as religion and ethnicity which the PDP has deliberately exploited to divide the nation. We will restore the faith and confidence of Nigerians in each other, and ensure that no Nigerian anywhere suffers any disadvantage on account of his or her religious affiliation or ethnic origin. We will uphold the rule of law and protect the human rights of all our citizens.
“The defense of the territorial integrity of our fatherland and the protection of the lives and property of all who live within our borders shall be a non-negotiable priority of an APC Federal Government. We will reclaim every inch of Nigerian territory, and liberate fellow citizens who, under the current dispensation, are resigned to life as captured and conquered citizens.
“Our armed forces will be massively motivated and given the necessary manpower and materials to enable them perform their sacred duty of protecting our country. Our people will be mobilized to support and honour our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line to ensure that we are all protected.
“To all Nigerians, I say, our party, the APC, will change Nigeria for good. We have the men and women who can do this because they passionately believe in Nigeria and are aggrieved by the 16 years of wasted opportunities under the PDP. We have developed the ideas and strategies to achieve this. We have the faith and confidence that this can be done in short order.
“We are resolved never to give up on Nigeria, or to abandon the imperatives of ensuring that the democratic process translates into better lives and opportunities for the present generation and a solid foundation to build an even better life for future generations. The only people who will fear, or resist, the type of change we represent and promise, are the tiny blood sucking minority who benefit from Nigeria’s current social and economic degradation.”
He therefore appealed to all Nigerians to endeavour to collect their Permanent Voters Cards, and use them to vote out the PDP and vote in the brighter, safer and more prosperous future, which, according to him, the APC represents.
“I call on INEC, the security agencies and other institutions of government to discharge their responsibilities courageously, fairly and firmly. Their prime responsibility is to the nation. I appeal to the international community to remain vigilant and continue to work with all Nigerians to ensure that the 2015 elections are credible. On our part, we remain committed to respecting the integrity of the electoral process, and we will discourage its subversion and will resist vigorously the use of violence, official or otherwise, to prevent the triumph of the will of the people,” he said.
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