APC presidential race: Atiku, Kwankwaso seek Rivers delegates’ votes

Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Kano State Governor, Alh­aji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, both presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have canvassed for votes from the

party’s delegates in Rivers State ahead of Thursday’s presidential primary election.

Alhaji Abubakar told delegates he was the most expe­rienced person in democratic governance amongst his rivals to be the presidential flag bearer of APC for the 2015 general elections; while Kwankwaso described himself as having the capacity to lead and transform Nigeria if elected president next year.

Addressing the delegates at the weekend, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Atiku expressed commitment to support the APC to achieve its desired results in 2015, stating that he would ensure the party maintained its internal democracy and promote due process.

He said: “Rivers State is my home because I have an investment which employs over 20,000 persons and that is why I have come to seek the support of the delegates to win the APC presidential primary election holding next week.

“We are prepared to bring the needed change this nation deserves, and among APC presidential aspirants, I think, I am better prepared. None of them has the experience of democratic governance. But, I have served as a democrati­cally elected vice president for eight years. I have better blue­print for Niger Delta,” Atiku said.

He urged the state Governor and APC leader in the state, Chibuike Amaechi, to ensure a level playing field, “so we can produce a credible candi­date for APC. I promise to take APC to greater heights,” Atiku added.

On the other hand, Alhaji Kwankwaso, who addressed the APC national delegates in Port Harcourt, said he would be the best choice to fly APC’s flag for the 2015 presidential election.

He said: “I am here to see my brother, the leader of APC in Rivers State and all other delegates so that we can see face to face, interact, under­stand ourselves, so that by December 10, God willing, in Lagos, everybody will go and vote Jonathan out of the Villa in 2015.

“Let me say that I believe, not because I am Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso but I very much believe that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso under the present situation, is the best candidate for our party, the APC. Many people under this our circum­stance, even this bad situation, tend to bring in their personal interests.

“Even the worst critic of Kwankwaso cannot say he is not capable. You can say any­thing, but they will tell you I have the capacity to do it, and the commitment; and that is what we need now, capacity, and that is what they lack in Abuja. They do not have the capacity. They cannot do the job.

“They know Rochas, they know Amaechi, they know the governor of Sokoto, they know all others that were in PDP and decided to move to APC. But, there are two people that they fear most, the Rotimi of Rivers and the Rotimi of Kano.”

He said: When they mention our names there, they shiver. They know we are very serious people. They don’t joke with us and that is why now, we have one of the Rotimis in the ring. He is the last person they want to see as a candidate of APC. We are people with courage; we are people with full determination, we are people with commitment to move this country forward and I believe that is very important.

“We are the people that will come out and say the truth ei­ther in the bedroom or in the sitting room or even in the market. We say it as it is, and that is why my brother (Amae­chi) is respected here and that is why I am also respected not only in Kano but across northern Nigeria. I believe this is the time of the Rotimis, if you know what I mean,” Kwank­waso said.

Responding, Governor Amaechi hailed Kwankwaso for his decision to run for president.

He stated that the government at the center was rotten and would require new leadership to turn things around in Nigeria. Recalling his travails, Amaechi said he was politically betrayed by most of those he knew, but pointed out Governor Kwankwaso, as having been one of those who stood by him in his try­ing times.