Ribadu, Adeola promise change

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) will provide a new leadership, if it wins the presidency in April, its National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, said yesterday.

He promised that the party would use its human and material resources to flush out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Aso Villa – the seat of the government. 

Akande said Nigerians had been going through pains in the last 12 years as a result of what he called PDP’s misrule.  

The former governor of Osun State spoke in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, during the commencement of the ACN’s presidential campaign. Former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is the party’s standard bearer. His running mate is renowned banker Fola Adeola. 

Yesterday’s rally was also to open the party’s campaign in the Northwest. 

Akande said the combined efforts of Ribadu, renowned for his relentless fight against corruption, and that of his running mate, an economic expert, would rescue Nigeria from the economic woes into which the PDP has plunged it. 

The ACN chair told the huge crowd that turned out at the Aminu Kano Triangular square that over 20 million youths are unemployed and are roaming the streets without any future. He said the ACN would reverse this by creating jobs. 

Amid shouts of “Sai Ribadu! Sai Ribadu!!” Akande handed the party’s flag to Ribadu and Adeola. 

The chairman pleaded with the electorate to use their votes wisely by electing Nigerians with credibility in April.  

Akande said:  “I bring to you the victory of Nigeria through a new brand of leadership today in Dutse. This is in response to the problem created in the country by the PDP over the years, which has to do with corruption, insecurity, unemployment and general pains to the Nigerian people. 

“We have been pondering as leaders over these problems and we are convinced we have the answer, but waiting for the opportunity to be in control. We have the materials in Ribadu, our presidential candidate, who has spent the greater part of his career fighting corruption. We also have the resources in terms of knowledge to do battle with all these vices in the vice presidential candidate Adeola who is a renowned economist.” 

Ribadu and his running mate promised to lead the country out of the woods if elected. “We will lead with the fear of God, if we are given the chance,” Ribadu said, adding:

“Time for change has come. This is the beginning. This is the moment of change. This is the opportunity we all have be waiting for. Time has come to claim our country back and this is what we are doing at the moment.” 

Adeola promised: “We will focus on those aspects of life that provide gainful employment to the Nigerian people.” 

ACN National leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the party has assembled a new team of technocrats who will wrest power from the PDP, which, he claimed, has put Nigeria in perpetual poverty and in darkness. 

He said the ACN, having restored hope in Lagos, Edo, Osun and Ekiti states, would re-enact the feat nationwide. He urged the Northwest to vote massively for the ACN so that the party could spread the dividends of democracy to all nooks and crannies of the country. 

Tinubu said: “Today is a great day for Nigeria and Jigawa State in particular. We bring to you a fresh hope, such that will change the lives of the people positively and wipe their tears of sorrow. Today, we shall see Ribadu and Adeola as a new hope for better Nigeria as these two men will send packing, the government of greed and dictatorship. 

“We promise that we will change the government that believes only in rigging and we will not give them the chance to perpetuate rigging any longer; and when the ACN forms the Federal Government, we will carry out reforms in all aspects of our national life, including the police, education and agricultural sectors as well as provide all other necessities of lives. 

 “You know how to make this change? You have registered 1.56 million people in Jigawa. You have registered 18million people in the Northwest. If you cast these votes for the Action Congress of Nigeria, change will be your help. Go and deliver it. God bless you,” Tinubu said.

The governorship candidates from the zone – Deputy Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Gwarzo (Kano) and Dr. Usman Bugaje (Katsina) – were presented to the large crowd of supporters.

The campaign train held the crowd spell-bound as the party chieftains arrived the venue at about 3.00pm.

It was difficult for the dignitaries to alight from the buses as the sea of supporters surged to catch a glimpse of the candidates. The buses were decorated with ACN logo and Ribadu’s photographs.

The grounds were filled to capacity. The vehicular movement on adjoining roads was at a snails speed.

Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) also addressed the rally. Others who spoke included Senators George Akume and Saminu Turaki. Both of them are seeking to return to the senate.  

At the rally were: Dr. Audu Ogbeh, Mallam Sanni Zorro, a House of Representatives candidate, Bauchi State governorship candidate Senator Baba Tella and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, among several others.