May 20, (THEWILL) – A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd), has called on the delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Bauchi state, to vote for the former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, during the party’s presidential primary.
Buratai, who has resigned as Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, made the appeal while trying to woo the Bauchi delegates to vote for Amaechi at the party’s convention holding on May 29th.
The former Army Chief noted that he was spurred to support Amaechi due to his outstanding profile and vast experience in governance, as well as his loyalty and love for Nigeria.
“You can see from the introduction, the experience of our presidential aspirant. The profile of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is quite intimidating. He has proven to be a sound administrator, a versatile leader, a good strategist and a politicisecurity4xcellence, who has shown good qualities in all areas he had worked.
“As speaker, as governor, as minister and also first among equals, during his tenure as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, as well as the dexterity and the quality of the campaign (for President Buhari) that he led on two occasions. That is why I am giving him my full support.
“He did that diligently with all his determination, loyalty and of course with love for Nigeria and love for humanity irrespective of what religion you belong to. This is quite commendable, that’s why he’s here today to solicit for your votes. From what you have heard about him, I believe you know that he’s the man of the moment. He is the right choice. So, I urge you to make the right choice and vote for him”, Buratai appealed.
Canvassing votes from the delegates, Amaechi, a two term Rivers State Governor, boasted that he is the only aspirant in the party with impressive records that would defeat the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His words: “This is the moment of decision. Among all the aspirants, I am the most qualified and I will tell you why I said so. For 22 years, I have held public office, as speaker, as governor and as minister. And in all of these, you will see my footprints.
“There’s a railway construction going on from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. It includes Bauchi and it is called the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway. If you vote for me, that project will be completed and it will create employment. So vote for me, make me the candidate of the party. I doubt if the other aspirants have the capacity to defeat me, If you vote for me I will defeat PDP.”
Meanwhile, during a visit to the Palace of the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwan Adamu, to pay him homage, Amaechi promised that if elected, he will tackle insecurity and provide infrastructure for the citizenry.
He told the Emir: “Your Royal Highness, I am here to seek for your blessings, to appeal to the Bauchi delegates to give me their votes on the day of the primaries, because there is no aspirant in our party that is as prepared as I am to be the President of Nigeria.
“I have the energy, I have the capability, I have the knowledge and the strength to be the President of Nigeria. I have the experience of what the problems are and what the solutions should be and I’m seeking your support to provide solutions to those problems.
“One of the things I did to fight militancy in Port Harcourt was to create employment. I will introduce agricultural programmes to create jobs for the people. I will provide infrastructure in Bauchi, I am full of experience, If you vote for me I will chase the criminals away.
“I did it in Port Harcourt and Rivers State and I am prepared to do it again. I will do my best to restore security in the country. Please tell your people to vote for me and I will bring that experience to bear.”
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