2019 Elections: Ignore Rumours of Violence and Unrest-Buhari Tells Nigerians

Full text of the National Broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday 22nd February, 2019.

Dear Nigerians,

Finally, we have reached the eve of the rescheduled first round of this year’s general elections.

2. Tomorrow, the polls open. Tomorrow, we affirm that Nigeria stands as a democracy and that no worldly hand can deter us from this wise and fitting path we have chosen for ourselves.

3. While democracy is the most beneficial way to select a nation’s leaders, it is far from the easiest thing to achieve and maintain.

4. It requires a combination of patience, tolerance, compassion, diligence, wisdom and hope. These traits exist in us the Nigerian people. Because of who we are, democracy has the chance to flourish in this land.

5. Thus, I commend all of you for your patience and peaceful conduct so far during this electoral season and especially during this intervening week following the postponement of the February 16 elections.

6. Many were worried and thought the worst might happen. You proved them wrong by showing that you are a great people with an abiding love for peace, democracy and the unity of our country.

7. According to the daily INEC public briefings given this week, the Electoral Commission says it is ready and fully prepared to conduct the election in a free, fair and transparent manner.

8. I believe INEC realises the profound and weighty duty that rests upon it.

9. We must cast aside doubt and have faith that INEC will rise to the occasion. We must believe and encourage INEC to fulfill and honour this responsibility it owes to our country.

10. As your President, I hereby ask all Nigerians with voting cards to participate in defining the future of our nation by exercising your democratic rights tomorrow. I urge you to go out and vote.

11. I say this because elections are the cornerstone of representative governance. And voting constitutes the highest and best expression of the sovereign will of the people to choose the government that best represents them.

12.  It is only upon the freely expressed will of the people that government truly dedicated to the welfare, rights and interests of the people can be founded.

13.  Do not allow anyone to discourage you from the exercise of your rights as citizens and voters tomorrow.

14. To vote means that you believe in Nigeria and the excellent things the future holds for this nation and its people.

15.  No matter our political leanings, we all believe in Nigeria, in the noble principles for which it stands and in the values we strive for our beloved nation to uphold. 

16.  All who are able, must vote so that we may better perfect this democracy and continue to build the greater nation we seek.

17. Do not be afraid of rumours of violence and unrest. Our security agencies have worked diligently to ensure that adequate security measures are in place.

18. You will be able to vote in an atmosphere of openness and peace, devoid of fear from threat or intimidation.

19. International and domestic monitors and observers are assured of their safety and freedom of movement needed to perform their important functions.

20. As we thank domestic monitors and observers for their contributions to our democracy, we also thank the international groups for the friendship and concern they have demonstrated to our nation.

21. We appreciate their efforts in encouraging us to further entrench and strengthen our democracy.

22.  Tomorrow is an encounter with history in which you, the people, shall affirm your collective belief in our national greatness and in our future. 

23.  I ask that you embrace and hold on to the importance of the moment soon to be upon us. 

24.  Honour your civic duty as voters by going to the polls tomorrow to vote for the government of your choice, for the government that will lead Nigeria toward its finest destiny.

25. As citizens there is no greater duty than this and no greater honour. Tomorrow, I know you will once again make Nigeria proud of its people.

May God bless our democracy and forever bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We Have No Pact With APC- Osun SDP Chairman, Ademola Ishola

The Pioneer Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)in Osun state, Chief Ademola Ishola this afternoon reinstated the call of the SDP stakeholders to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential

candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Ishola in a statement in Osogbo on Thursday, February 21, 2019 disclosed,

that, "the foundation members of the party from the 30 local governments have resolved to severe all ties with Otunba Iyiola Omisore and his coalition agenda with the APC."

According to him, "Majority of the SDP members, particularly the old supporters have no pact with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and were not involved in any coalition agreement with the ruling

party."

He stated that the party was faced with a situation where some people who were never part of the vision of SDP and those who lacked ideals of what the party stood for,hijacked the party and wanted to destroy it like they did to their former party.

“For instance, the former deputy-governor of the State, Iyiola Omisore and his supporters came to our party in April last year and you will recollect how they caused several trouble for us. He spent less than six months and now he is out again. The crisis Omisore caused is still very much with us".

“We have decided to save our party in the state. We will support our members who are contesting in the forthcoming election, but we have directed all authentic members of SDP to vote for Atiku and for PDP candidates  where we have no candidate.

“We resolved to do that because we are of the opinion that we cannot collaborate with those responsible for the  killings, hunger, unemployment, nepotism and

suffering in our land. 

"It is our resolve to join hands with the PDP to bring an end to all the terrible situation that the ruling party forced on the good  people of Osun state and Nigeria"

"The pains and sufferings of our people must be stopped and we shall deploy all legitimate resources to make this dream a reality".

"Our Presidential candidates have endorsed Atiku Abubakar,so every member of the party be it a Gana or Duke' supporter,we are bound to tow their path by voting the PDP"

Ishola called for a peaceful polls, and encourage electorates to come out enmass without fear of intimidation.

"The presidential order and the show of force by the security agencies is just to scare voters."

Chief Ademola Isola

Pioneer Chairman Osun SDP

21/2/2019

"This election is about the future of our great nation", Atiku says as he appeals to Nigerians

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has appealed to Nigerians to come out and vote in Saturday's rescheduled election. He pointed out that the election is about the future of Nigeria. 

Making the appeal in a live broadcast on his social media pages, Abubakar said “my message to you is simple, please come out and vote as this election is about your future and the future of our great nation”.

He noted that everyone is equal and no one is more important than the other, thereby encouraging everyone to vote.

“As you know this Saturday we have the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The reason we have elections is to allow us to have our voices heard on how we have been governed for the last four and who will govern us for the next four years.

“On March 28, 2015, we the people of Nigeria went to the polling unit only with our PVCs, yet we were able to remove an incumbent President from office, that made me be a very proud Nigerian and a very Democrat”.

He added that this Saturday Nigerians will have another opportunity to vote the President of their choice, and that can only be done through the PVC’s.

“I will be voting with mine on Saturday and I call on you all to please join me irrespective of who you will be voting for.

“God bless you and God, bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.