Tinubu, Buhari, Oshiomhole offer road map to new Nigeria

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By Our Reporter on March 7, 2014 · Politics

FROM TAIWO AMODU, ABUJA
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has declared that a fresh mandate for the incumbent President, Dr  Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 could spell doom for the country democracy as he claimed that President Jonathan could transform himself  to a civilian dictator.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the APC national summit tagged, “Road map  to a New Nigeria, “ the former vice-president who described the APC as a dream come true further noted that it would afford Nigerians the opportunity of a credible change.
“APC is a dream come true. It will give the people an alternative choice.
We have experienced a political party that has failed this country for 15 years. If Ghana can alternate between a ruling party and an opposition party, there is no reason why Nigeria cannot.”
“ I am scared that if we allow Jonathan to continue beyond 2015, I bet we are going to end up with a civilian dictator.”
Former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former presidential candidate of the defunct ANPP and CPC, Muhammadu Buhari offered an insight into why the main rival political parties decided to collapse into one and the vision of the new party.
Tinubu told the gathering of party faithful that APC was consummated to create a competitiveness in politics and economy and a renewal of hope for the nation teeming youth.
“APC is a contract with Nigerians, a renewal of hope for a united country, a renewal of hope for our youth– that we will not educate them and abandoned them on the streets. We can do it and we must do it.”
Buhari expressed concern that major national institutions have collapsed in the last 15 years under the PDP led federal government, but assured Nigerians that the situation would be redressed in an APC led federal government.
“PDP cannot manage its success. All the institutions are collapsing over their heads. We are determined to change that. Nigeria must be secured and the people should be able to sleep with their eyes closed.”
Also speaking on the party road map ahead of 2015 general elections, Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, disclosed that the party would create jobs for the teeming youth in the country as he noted that it would go a long way in solving  the scary security challenge facing the nation.
“We want to celebrate jobs, not imports. Today, 15 years after the ruling party came to power, our refineries are grounded and we are celebrating importation of premium motor spirit (petroleum).
We must reinvent the industrial bases  of Ikeja, Apapa, Aba and the Trans Amadi in Rivers state.
We want to create an economy, where those companies that took flight with their feet return.
The entry point for any Nigerian in this democratic process is, what is going to change? Would they provide jobs, will there be security?
To create jobs, we cannot have an economy that is generator driven. If you have failed for 14 years, how can we trust you? As long as they are in power, Nigerians would be out of power.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Lagos state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola told the gathering  that APC was committed to creating a credible alternative for Nigerians.
“This is a historic day not only for the APC but also for our nation. The work we begin today is the work that will build a New Nigeria. A future when there are jobs for everyone who wants to work; a future without leaders who deprive the very families they are supposed to protect;
A future of peace and stability; A future when Nigeria can feed its families; A future when a Nigerian education is as good as any education in the world:
A future when the high prices of food and fuel don’t undermine every family’s quality of life –
This is the future that we start to build here, today”
“We are tied together by what we believe:
We believe our nation must be economically and socially vibrant
We believe our nation must be peaceful, just and secure. We believe that corruption must no longer be tolerated in any corner of our nation, not in political life and not in our business or civic affairs
“We believe in investing in our people, because they are the most important assets of our Nation.
We believe every person deserves work that enables them to provide for their families, to contribute to the community and to have a favorable, quality of life.
“This is what we believe. This is what brings us together.
“This is our mission, the mission of our party; the mission of our nation.”
In her keynote address, former Education Minister, Obiageli Ezekwesili declared that politicians have not fared better than the military but however noted that democracy was still better than military regime.
She further noted that what was lacking in the country was lack of common destiny and common heritage.
The former Education Minister  further submitted  that Nigeria has failed to transform from a country to a nation even after fighting a civil war.
“Why is it that 100 years after amalgamation and having fought a civil war, we are yet to transform into a nation? The answer is simple: elite failure is the problem of Nigeria.”