A group of Nigerians under the auspices of Nigeria Consolidation Ambassadors Network on Wednesday stormed the APC National Secretariat with a dummy check of N45 million to purchase nomination for and expression of interest form for President Muhammadu Buhari to contest the presidential nomination of the party.
Also an Enugu based business man who identified himself as Chief David Ibe presented a check of N5 million to the APC national Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the expression of interest form for the President.
It was however a busy day at the APC secretariat as interested aspirants who have been waiting for the release of the timetable besieged the place to purchase the nomination and expression of interest form.
Former Zamfara state Governor, Mamuda Shinkafi and former FCT Minister, Akpan Udoedehe, were some of the early callers at the secretariat to buy form to contest for the governorship of their state.
Speaking while presenting the dummy check to the APC Chairman, National Coordinator of the Group, Sunusi Musa said the group which was formed in 2017 to propagate the second term bid of the President decided to pull resources together to purchase the nomination form for the President.
He said they were aware that the President was not a millionaire, but has millions of supporters across the countries who are angling for him to continue in office.
He said “We believe in the leadership of President Buhari; we can count on him to consolidate the good work he has started for another four more years.
“It is for this reason Mr. Chairman we have decided to “pull our meagre resources together and purchase the expression of interest and nomination form for President Buhari as he present himself to our party members to be chosen as its candidate for the 2019 general election.
“Our members from the various villages, local governments and states have contributed to making this happen. We know President Buhari is not a multi-millionaire cash wise, but he has millions of supporters who are always ready to come together to pay for his nomination form.”
He said further that “Members of our great party across the country are in unison on the applause you deserve for the work you have started towards redemption of the party. Your leadership has brought the stability the revolution of ideas and the team spirit of change that is needed in this journey of making Nigeria great.
“We are members of the National Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN) here present are representatives of our members from the different states and zones of the country. Our resolve since our formation over a year ago is primarily to ensure that President Buhari sought for another term as well ensure that the President emerge victorious in the 20 l9 elections.
“Our reason for embarking on this project is based on the recognition of the fact that the President has started laying a foundation for a better Nigeria and there is need to consolidate on the gains so far made. It is for this reason, that we are pride ourselves as Network of Consolidation Ambassadors.
“From September 2017 till April 2018, NCAN was in the forefront calling on President Buhari to seek re-election in order to consolidate on the good work that he has been doing by building on the foundation he has laid for a prosperous Nigeria.
“As God will have it, Mr. President acceded to the call of voice of reasoning and declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019.
“We have no doubt that Mr. President has both action and word being working and laying a foundation for greater and prosperous nation that our generation and future generation will be proud of. Under his administration Nigeria has become a country sought after for investments in the world; Nigeria has assumed its leadership role in not just Africa but the world.
“Nigeria‘s moribund infrastructure is being revived. There is no state In Nigeria that does not have several Federal Government infrastructure project either completed or being, executed under President Buhari.
“We have a stable and steadily growing economy that is departing from the monotonic oil dependence: Agriculture is now an attractive venture as farmers are becoming multi-millionaires Nigeria is now an exporter of Agricultural products as oppose to what it was three years ago.
“For the first time since the return of democracy, Nigerians have a President who can beat his chest and state that he has never stolen from the purse of government.
“We have a President who is not having meetings at night to strike shady personal deals but rather is ensuring that every agreement entered into by Nigeria is in the interest of the country and for its generations unborn.
“This has indeed boosted the confidence of investors hence the increase in flow of Direct Foreign Investment into the country. Looted funds are being recovered and ploughed back to developing our country’s deficit infrastructure.
“Almost a million farmers under the Anchor Borrowers Programme are benefiting from low interest loans that they accessed without “chua chua”. 500 000 previously unemployed graduates me now employed under the NPower Scheme; 400,000 extremely poor families are receiviiig_5,000 Naira monthly and that is changing, their lives. Over 8 million children are being fed daily in our public schools across the country.
“Today, and for the first time in our history, we have a government that is honest and sincere in investing in the lives of the poor, the masses and the underprivileged.
“Before President Buhari came on board, 14 local governments of this country were under the control of the terrorist group Boko Haram. That is no longer the case anymore. In the North Eastern part of this country which was hitherto a theatre of war, farmers are returning to their farms. Businesses are reopening and roads closed for over three years have been reopened. Live is returning back to normal.
“The Niger Delta agitators, whom were forced to become militants due to deliberate neglect of the people of Niger Delta by successive regimes, have seen reason to give peace a chance due to sincere effort being made to develop the region.
“No doubt Change indeed is being delivered as promised. We cannot afford to go back to Egypt. We cannot afford to destroy the future of our children. The foundation laid by President Muhammadu Buhari must be reinforced.”