.
By Nasir Kura
President Muhammadu Buhari said on Thursday that he is the preferred candidate for the presidential election scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 16, 2019.
In a nationwide broadcast, the president said Saturday’s election is about choice between consolidating the achievements recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the last three and half years and returning to the maladministration that characterised the 16-year administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“In making your choice this time, please ask yourself whether, and in what ways, others will do anything different to address the issues of agriculture, infrastructure, security, good governance and fighting corruption.
“If they are only hoping to do what we are already doing successfully, we are clearly your preferred choice. Think carefully and choose wisely. This time, it is a choice about consolidating on growth for jobs and prosperity.
“February 16, 2019, is all about a choice. But it is more than a choice between APC and the opposition. It is a choice about you, it is a choice between going back or keeping the momentum of change.
“The road to greater prosperity for Nigeria may be long, but what you can be assured of is a Leadership that is not prepared to sacrifice the future well-being of Nigerians for our own personal or material needs. You can be assured of my commitment to remain focused on working to improve the lives of all Nigerians,” he said.
The president also assured of a peaceful elections, saying “comments or threats of intimidation from any source do not represent the position” of the present administration.
“It was indeed such free, fair and peaceful elections that made it possible for our Government to emerge, despite the fact that we were contesting against a long-standing incumbent party.
“And as your president and a fellow Nigerian, I ask that you come out and queue to fulfill this important obligation you have to yourselves and your fellow citizens – and to our common future.
“Let me at this point, reaffirm the commitment of the federal government to the conduct of free and fair elections in a safe and peaceful atmosphere. Just yesterday, I signed the Peace Accord alongside 72 other presidential candidates,” he said.
The president also appealed to the youth not allow themselves to be used to cause violence and destruction during and after the polls.
He said the people who want to incite the youth are those preparing the ground for discrediting the elections.
“Having lost the argument, they fear losing the elections,” he said.
The president also spoke on the achievements of the present administration, saying he would build on the achievements recorded in the fight against corruption, security and economy.
