VICE President Atiku Abubakar yesterday took another step towards becoming president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He, as widely speculated, was anointed as the presidential flagbearer on the banner of the Action Congress (AC) for the 2007 elections, at a colourful National Convention held in Lagos. Interestingly, the Vice President was also adopted by nine other political parties in the country, among which are Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), the Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria (LDPN), the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ), the Peoples Solidarity Party (PSP), the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), Better Nigerian Peoples Party (BNPP), United Democratic Party (UDP) and National Masses Movement of Nigeria (NMMN).
The development came on a day that a Federal High Court, Abuja restrained the Federal Government from trying Abubakar for as long as he remains Nigeria's Vice President.
In his acceptance speech, Abubakar, who said that he would name his running mate soon, noted that the coalition that attended the AC convention were the brave Nigerian leaders who fought military dictatorship and restored democracy to the nation. The Vice President said that there was no other political party in the country other than the AC, adding that he was honoured to be the party's flagbearer for the coming general election. He said: "It is with a sense of responsibility that I accept my adoption as the presidential candidate of the AC. It is a great honour to me and a tribute to the principles and ideals that I stand for."He listed the principles as including respect for rule of law and due process as well as accountability in government.
The Vice President, who was disallowed from contesting for the office by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recognised the presence of some eminent Nigerians who successfully fought military dictatorship and were with the AC.These, he noted, include Chief Solomon Lar, Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina, and the AC national chairman, Chief Adebisi Akande. His words: "We are determined to stop the hypocritical, dishonest and selfish clique that persecutes political enemies, destroys our hard-earned democracy and corners our natural resources. Our reforms will be genuine, to create jobs and truly alleviate poverty." Abubakar said that he had faced a series of harassment, intimidation and persecution for expressing his wish to contest for the office of president.
He said that his families, friends and aides also came under "fire" from the top echelon of the ruling party, saying: "I have witnessed unprecedented attacks on my person, family, aides and associates."
He urged Nigerians to support the AC so that "we will reclaim our country from those who want to destroy democracy."The Vice President said that the danger facing Nigerians now "is that of surrendering our country to a clique that is bent on cornering our resources for personal use." To tackle that challenge, he said, Nigeria needs a "committed leadership; a leadership that is committed to change; a leadership that is committed to reforms - reforms that will benefit all the people rather than a few." The Vice President said that Nigerians needed a change for the observance of the rule of law and freedom for the citizenry. He said: "I am the candidate for that change," adding that by adopting him, the coalition had demonstrated its commitment to that change.
The development came on a day that a Federal High Court, Abuja restrained the Federal Government from trying Abubakar for as long as he remains Nigeria's Vice President.
In his acceptance speech, Abubakar, who said that he would name his running mate soon, noted that the coalition that attended the AC convention were the brave Nigerian leaders who fought military dictatorship and restored democracy to the nation. The Vice President said that there was no other political party in the country other than the AC, adding that he was honoured to be the party's flagbearer for the coming general election. He said: "It is with a sense of responsibility that I accept my adoption as the presidential candidate of the AC. It is a great honour to me and a tribute to the principles and ideals that I stand for."He listed the principles as including respect for rule of law and due process as well as accountability in government.
The Vice President, who was disallowed from contesting for the office by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recognised the presence of some eminent Nigerians who successfully fought military dictatorship and were with the AC.These, he noted, include Chief Solomon Lar, Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina, and the AC national chairman, Chief Adebisi Akande. His words: "We are determined to stop the hypocritical, dishonest and selfish clique that persecutes political enemies, destroys our hard-earned democracy and corners our natural resources. Our reforms will be genuine, to create jobs and truly alleviate poverty." Abubakar said that he had faced a series of harassment, intimidation and persecution for expressing his wish to contest for the office of president.
He said that his families, friends and aides also came under "fire" from the top echelon of the ruling party, saying: "I have witnessed unprecedented attacks on my person, family, aides and associates."
He urged Nigerians to support the AC so that "we will reclaim our country from those who want to destroy democracy."The Vice President said that the danger facing Nigerians now "is that of surrendering our country to a clique that is bent on cornering our resources for personal use." To tackle that challenge, he said, Nigeria needs a "committed leadership; a leadership that is committed to change; a leadership that is committed to reforms - reforms that will benefit all the people rather than a few." The Vice President said that Nigerians needed a change for the observance of the rule of law and freedom for the citizenry. He said: "I am the candidate for that change," adding that by adopting him, the coalition had demonstrated its commitment to that change.
2 comments:
mydo,keep telling the world that a child is born and a saviour is also born along the child.the name of the child is called Action Congress while the saviour bear ABUBAKAR ATIKU. God sent to deliver Nigerian from the galo of 8yrs OBJ put niger.
omo, i no go lie u.me sef dey 4 action congress. after all dem don do atiku, he must win except say dem rig am,whixh we all know they will do.
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