Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is wooing the G7 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rescue Nigeria from 14 years of the ruling party’s “nothingness”.
He said the party had been touring the country to market it to the G7 governors, who he described as “beautiful brides”.
Besides, the APC leader advised students to march on the Villa, if the lecturers’ strike remains unresolved.
Tinubu, who spoke in Abuja at the dinner of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, said : “We have been going around . We have been talking to our brothers, we have marketed our party, our spirit, our manifesto and determination to rescue Nigeria. We have made proposals to the G7 and beautiful brides and we asked them to put additional powder, support if it is necessary. If we have to give them new shoes, please do so. High heels or low heels, please do so and let us get married to increase our number. With additional seven, eight, nine or 10 states, make it possible, we are very proud of you.”
The former governor said lamentation, envy and sophistry would not help the citizenry to rescue the country from its decline , “but if we are united, if we push the spirit of oneness, unity and determination, we will defeat and stop the drifting of the last 14 years of nothingness of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
According to him, APC’s mission to rescue Nigeria is not because the members are hungry or thirsty for power, but because it is only the result of a free and fair election a democrat should accept.
He urged National Assembly members to weed out obnoxious regulations.
In TInubu’s view, Nigerians should stop the excesses of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since it would not surrender power on its own.
He condemned the police’s invasion of a meeting of governors in Abuja, saying: “ A DPO going to the governors’ residence to terminate their meeting. It is a shame and we should eradicate it.”
On the prolonged strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Tinubu urged Nigerians to stop lamenting and confront the Federal Government on the issue.
He said following his belief in action for positive change, he would insist that the union resumes work Thursday or the students are mobilised to the streets and Aso Villa.
Tinubu said: “It is time Nigerians move away from lamentation and move with the strength of liberation. It is time we did not give excuses for failure, inadequacies and accountability in governance. I am sorry if they don’t resume tomorrow, I order those students to be out on the streets. If our vehicles have no way to pass; if they can move to the Villa and sack the Villa, it is for their future. We should stop lamenting this as a challenge.”
He told the party men that freedom is sweet but it is not easy, adding: “You cannot eat an omelet without breaking eggs.”
The party leader insisted that the last senatorial election in Delta State was a far cry from a free and fair election, stressing that APC must be different from PDP.
He promised the party’s support for its Anambra State governorship candidate, Senator Chris Ngige.
Former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari noted that Nigeria is witnessing a political earthquake as a result of the great expectation of the citizenry.
“We are witnessing a landslide of a political earthquake. Alliances have been concluded and new alliances are being invoked. Nigerians-old and young, men and women – are working with great expectation that this movement will turn Nigeria around,” Gen. Buhari said.
He spoke of Nigeria’s neighbours anxiously waiting for Nigerians to provide leadership and direction for them to follow.
The former head of state added that the international community was equally waiting to see if Nigerians can come together to play their role in the world.
He, however, noted that Nigeria’s situation calls for solutions “since the government at the centre since 1999, the Federal Government, has been clueless, has no direction and speaks most times from both sides of the mouth”.
To Buhari, the 2007 presidential election was far from being credible. He said the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu, wrote the results before the election was completed.
“Once we come together, we will be strong to stop election rigging,” Gen Buhari told the APC chiefs.
The party’s Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, announced that it planned to register 15million members.
He said: “We are working very hard to call on Nigerians very shortly to register at least 15 million people across the 120,000 polling units all over Nigeria.”
He promised that APC would champion the country’s civilisation that will radiate light.
While explaining that APC will bring peace to the country, he said “Nigeria is not at war yet it is not at peace”.
He is hopeful that if the votes in the next elections count,the party will produce the president and most of the governors.
In his welcome address, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said the APC was already becoming a movement.
He explained that following the one Nigerian dream of the nation’s founding fathers, the party has recognised the country’s ethnic diversity.
To those who express fears that the country may break up, Fashola said “the APC family believes that the house will stand”.
Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole told the party to believe that its action can stop election rigging.
He said the party has set examples of performance in the states it governs, adding that it is an indication that APC will distinguish itself even at the national level.
Oshiomhole asked APC to prayers with action that will ensure that “we will fix Nigeria”
Kano State Governor Dr. Musa Kwankwaso assured the APC that he would come with his supporters to join the party.
Represented by his Special Assistant (Sports), the governor recalled that APC had a few days ago made an overture to him to join it.
After consultations, he said, he would join APC in a very big way.
His words: “It is clear that we are on our way coming. By the time all the consultations are done, you will certainly hear from us in a big way.”
The governor cautioned those clamouring for the balkanisation of the country to understand that the division does not necessarily guarantee peace since the smaller units would inherit the present challenges in Nigeria.
He said: “First and foremost, the Nigerian unity; some people are already beating war drum, threatening to break up this country.
“When Nigeria breaks up, those smaller units will still carry along with them those problems that we are threatening to break up from,” said Kwakwanso.
While proffering a solution to the circumstances the country has found itself, Kwakwanso said: “In a moment of national crisis, we must not take a holiday for thinking.”
He recalled that a prominent South African musician Lucky Dube’s suspected killer confessed that he mistook Dube for a Nigerian, adding that the life of a Nigerian has become very worthless.
But he expressed hope that if he joins APC, where he has people of like minds, they could take the nation to the next level.
The governor said like his Lagos State counterpart and Imo State’s Rochas Okorocha, he had also employed his aide from another state for the essence of merit and spirit of one Nigeria.
The governor submitted that the threat to demolish his house in Maitama District of the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) would not compel him to surrender his political belief for an inferior one.
He said: “That cannot or does not change the way, the strength , determination and belief of Kwakwanso. If you demolish his house in Maitama, who cares? That is not the only house he might have owned.”
According to him, there are so many other leaders who built their houses in the same green area and the Federal Government has ignored their violation.
He said he was compiling their names.
Kwakwanso’s aide said: “There is something around my boss, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, that I will like to share with you today. You must have read in the news that his house was marked for demolition. That same house is owned by him and he has a valid C-of-O. Now behind the house there is a small piece of land, which is actually called the green area.
“And he requested the Minister of FCT, Dr. Bala Mohammed, to extend that piece of land for him. He accepted and asked him to bring the original C-of-O for the original building.
“They withdrew it and gave him an original C-of-O covering the extension. The design and everything that has to do with that building was approved by the FCT administration. Then, suddenly, we heard that they want to demolish the house.”
Others at the dinner were Chief Tom Ikimi, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, Borno State Governor Kasim Shetima, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Giadam, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Hon. Femi Gbajiabiamila, Hon. Abike Dabiri and many others.