Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has promised to lead a government that will restore Nigeria’s glory if he is voted into power during the presidential ballot on February 14.

He made the promise yesterday while addressing a mammoth crowd at a campaign rally in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Before hitting the campaign venue at Emmaus House, Buhari had visited the traditional ruler of Awka, Igwe Gibson Nwosu (Eze Uzu), and the Anglican Bishop of the Awka, Alex Ibezim, who blessed him and handed a copy of the Holy Bible to him.

Buhari during the rally told the ecstatic crowd that that an APC government would restore Nigeria’s glory and put an end to corruption. He reeled out education, security, economy and power as the priorities of his administration.

The former military ruler expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their growing confidence in him and urged them to obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards, as that it is the tool they need to vote him into power.

In his words, “You can’t love Buhari without having the credence to vote for him. Go and get your Permanent Voter’s Card, that is your only power to making the right choice. There must be change.

“Security and lack of job are the major issues in Nigeria. People are being killed in large numbers everyday and today in Borno State, about 200 people were again killed. If the federal government is serious, they should have been there to rescue the Chibok girls who were kidnapped and nobody knows where they are today.

“I will work to empower agriculture, fishing, educational institutions and upgrade it with good teachers and equipments. Imagine if we have constant power how functional we can be.”

Earlier, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, who introduced Buhari to the audience, allayed the fear making the rounds in the South-East that the retired general might Islamise the country if voted to power.

He said that as a military Head of State, Buhari did not for one day nurse such idea and will not then do it in a democracy where several democratic organs would be in place to checkmate such excesses.

The Imo State Governor stressed that Ndigbo in particular and the country at large had grown beyond listening to such idle and unintellible talks.

He said: “The way General Mohammadu Buhari embraced the Holy Bible given to him by the bishop to his chest demonstrably portrayed him as a non-religious fanatic.

“He is the only candidate that is distinguished in character and he will stamp out corruption from our system. They are scared because they know if he gets into power, he will probe all the corrupt units of this nation. That is why we have gathered to give this nation a more visionary purposeful leadership.”

He called on the Igbo people to support and vote massively for the (APC) in next month’s poll saying that there would be no reason for him and other Igbo leaders in (APC) to deceive the people if the mass movement for change in the country would not be in the interest of Ndigbo.

Also, in his speech, Senator Chris Ngige said: “Today we are bringing our flag bearer, Gen Buhari to Anambra State. We are here to market him. Igbos have not showed enough presence in (APC), they have allowed themselves to be deceived by (PDP) propaganda.

“PDP has given broken promises, the Second Niger Bridge, Onitsha Port, River Port, all in papers, etc. They do what is called ear mark but we want to show Nigeria what good governance is all about.”

He stressed that that February 14 is the D-Day saying that if they fail on that day, they will fail in subsequent elections.

“We will man every booth to protect our votes. If you vote, stay and ensure your vote is counted. Buhari has done it before and he will do it again, it is time for change,” Ngige said.

•Photo shows Buhari speaking yesterday at the Awka campaign rally.

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