Buhari Secures Amaechi’s Backing for APC Presidential Ticket

Buhari Secures Amaechi’s Backing for APC Presidential Ticket

15 Oct 2014

Hon. Chibuike Amaechi

Woos National Assembly members

Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

As former Head of State, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), formally declares to run for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, Rivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has declared his resolve to back the general for the position.

Amaechi make his position known yesterday evening when Buhari paid him a visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Amaechi said he was satisfied that Buhari has a solution to corruption which he described as the core of problems of the nation and said he would support the former head of state in his aspiration.

He expressed regret that most Nigerians had been accusing Buhari of tribalism and also being a religious bigot.

“The problem that you have in politics, which I have come to observe is that those who managed your image in the past did not manage it properly. They allowed them erroneous label of you being a religious bigot to stick. Let me take myself for example, if you accuse me once, I accuse you 20 times and then go to the media to tell them my own side of the story.

“Those who describe you as a religious bigot do not know you. Frankly, I used to think that way when I was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but all that changed when I joined the APC and had the opportunity to relate with you very closely as a politician and realised that you are truly detribalised in the true sense of the word,”  Amaechi said.

Amaechi then declared: “We will be there tomorrow (at the declaration) for you. In the day for the primary election, you will see us in our true colour.”

Buhari had in his speech said he was in the state to seek the support of the governor and his people in his desire to be the candidate of the APC.

He accused the PDP of mismanaging the country and stated that he has the capability to stop insecurity and impunity in the country.

His words: “We have a problem and the problem is fundamental. It is the question of securing and managing the resources of Nigeria.

“I appeal to the states and National Assembly to stabilise the system so that whoever wins next year’s election will not run the country with impunity. The beauty of democracy is the balance of power.

“PDP has messed itself up, it has messed the country up. Nigerians know we have a good opportunity to change the situation. What happened in Ekiti and Osun is a clear indication. It is either we totally mobilise and get the election results and form the government or we go under for good.”

Meanwhile, ahead of today’s formal declaration of interest in the 2015 presidential election, Buhari has moved to secure the support of majority of the  APC in the National Assembly.

THISDAY gathered that as part his nationwide consultations of stakeholders of the party, Buhari yesterday night met with some serving senators of the APC in Abuja.

According to a source in the campaign team of the former Head of State, the meeting, which was held in camera, was purposely intended to parley with the legislators with regard to his ambition and the need for the them to back his fourth time bid for presidency.

“Buhari is meeting with senators of the APC in Abuja as part of his engagement with critical stakeholders to explain his mission. The meeting is of two parts, one with senators and another one with members of the House of Representatives which will be fixed after his public declaration,” he said.

Meanwhile, preparations for Buhari’s declaration of presidential ambition has reached feverish level with the Eagles Square, venue of the event, witnessing heightened security.