ABUJA – All roads on Tuesday led to the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, venue of Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s declaration of intention to contest the presidential election on the platform of the APC in 2015.
The venue, with two major roads leading into it, was effectively secured by combined team of police, military personnel and the civil defence corps members.
The situation led to traffic gridlock as many motorists, especially those approaching from the Central Area of Abuja, remained stationary for hours.
Business activities were, however, booming with hawkers making brisk businesses.
Kwankwaso, while making his declaration, urged the nation’s youths to “unleash’’ their votes for the right candidate at the 2015 polls.
In a 3,430-word document, Kwankwaso called on the youth to vote for the APC, to ensure change in the nation and actualise their hope.
“We must vote for the APC to bring change to our nation, to actualise hope; to remove despair and despondency.
“We must stand up together as one people to fight against corruption, impunity and division. Yes, we must,’’ he stressed.
He said that there would be challenges but Nigerians must unite to overcome any challenge posed in the quest for a greater Nigeria.
“I therefore wish to accept this call and to formally declare my interest to seek for the presidential ticket of our great party, the APC, in February 2015 general elections.
“I am offering myself and soliciting the support of all patriotic Nigerians to join me on this difficult journey to return our country to the pedestal of peace and progress.
“I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult and arduous. I have no illusion about the enormity of the challenges but to save our country, we must walk the journey, however difficult.
“And we must confront and defeat all the challenges, however monstrous they are,’’ he said.
Speaking on behalf of the 15 APC governors, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, lauded his Kano counterpart’s “good works”.
“I said it at the Buhari declaration that whoever wins the presidential ticket after the APC primaries, all the governors will support him.’’
Gov. Abdulazeez Yari said “the APC as a movement was not formed to be an opposition party. It was conceived but to wrestle power from un-performing governments’’.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Fred Olokor, said when Kwankwaso was a young man 22 years ago as the deputy speaker, “he displayed a high sense of responsibility; he was a true nationalist.
“He has seen Nigeria from different perspectives at his young age. I am confident that when given the opportunity, will rule the country with the fear of God”.
Sen. Robert Boroffice, who spoke on behalf of senators present, said: “If he becomes the president, he would fight corruption and give the country a good governance, true transformation to the masses’’.
The Eze Ndi Igbo in Kano, Mr Boniface Ibekwe, in his goodwill message, said “we have come to identify with the aspiration of our governor because he is the kind of leader the country needs.
“He does not discriminate and he supports all ethnic groups to do their businesses in Kano. If other leaders performed like him, the country would be a better place’’.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Governor Abubakar Audu, said he was also at the event on behalf of all former governors.
“The difference is clear because Kwankwaso served Nigeria in many capacities. Nigerians have no alternative but to vote for him. I am optimismistic that come 2015 the governor will be inaugurated as president.
“This is an opportunity again for Nigerians to re-write the history of the country because kwankwaso’s rich experience speaks loudly for him.
Present at the event were Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara and Raji Fashola of Lagos State, while Yobe, Borno and Kwara states had their deputy governors in attendance.
Others were former Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Sen. Bindowo Jibrilla; Sen. Magnus Abe; former National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje; Mai Bala Buni; National Women Leader, Sharon Ikeazu, and former Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Bala. (NAN)