From The State House…
Dear Compatriots,
1. As we
prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to
express my immense appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this
great nation of ours in the past four years.
prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to
express my immense appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this
great nation of ours in the past four years.
2. I also
wish to place on record, once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you
have given my administration without which the significant progress we have
made in recent years would not have been possible. Continue…
wish to place on record, once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you
have given my administration without which the significant progress we have
made in recent years would not have been possible. Continue…
3. In spite
of the many challenges we have had to contend with since 1999, our present
democratic dispensation continues to endure and grow stronger in keeping with
the yearnings and aspirations of our people.
of the many challenges we have had to contend with since 1999, our present
democratic dispensation continues to endure and grow stronger in keeping with
the yearnings and aspirations of our people.
4. We have
all worked very hard to nurture and strengthen our democratic institutions and
promote the good governance practices which they were designed to deliver for
the better well-being of our people.
all worked very hard to nurture and strengthen our democratic institutions and
promote the good governance practices which they were designed to deliver for
the better well-being of our people.
5. I believe
I can say without fear of contradiction that we all clearly cherish the
democracy we now have and will never willingly give it up for any other form of
governance.
I can say without fear of contradiction that we all clearly cherish the
democracy we now have and will never willingly give it up for any other form of
governance.
6. This
much-cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to the test once again.
much-cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to the test once again.
7. I urge
you all to troop out en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting
for leaders of your choice tomorrow.
you all to troop out en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting
for leaders of your choice tomorrow.
8. As we do
so, let us all – political party leaders, contestants, party members, party
agents, supporters and ordinary voters alike, be very conscious of the fact
that the eyes of the entire world are on us.
so, let us all – political party leaders, contestants, party members, party
agents, supporters and ordinary voters alike, be very conscious of the fact
that the eyes of the entire world are on us.
9. We must
therefore comport ourselves in a manner that will further strengthen our
democracy and consolidate our place in the comity of truly democratic nations.
therefore comport ourselves in a manner that will further strengthen our
democracy and consolidate our place in the comity of truly democratic nations.
10. I made a
commitment on assumption of office to progressively deliver freer, fairer and
more credible elections in our country. In keeping with that commitment, the
Federal Government has given the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it conducts very successful
elections tomorrow and on April 11.
commitment on assumption of office to progressively deliver freer, fairer and
more credible elections in our country. In keeping with that commitment, the
Federal Government has given the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it conducts very successful
elections tomorrow and on April 11.
11. We have all
been assured that INEC is fully ready for the elections. I believe that we can
all trust that they are certainly more ready now than they may have been before
security issues and other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of the dates
for the 2015 general elections.
been assured that INEC is fully ready for the elections. I believe that we can
all trust that they are certainly more ready now than they may have been before
security issues and other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of the dates
for the 2015 general elections.
12. As an
administration, we welcome the fact that millions of Nigerians who were yet to
receive their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as at February 14, and would
therefore have been unfairly disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead on that date, have seized the opportunity of
the re-scheduling to collect their cards and can now exercise their right to
vote tomorrow.
administration, we welcome the fact that millions of Nigerians who were yet to
receive their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as at February 14, and would
therefore have been unfairly disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead on that date, have seized the opportunity of
the re-scheduling to collect their cards and can now exercise their right to
vote tomorrow.
13. We are also
glad that our gallant Armed Forces have successfully stemmed the seizure of
Nigerian territories in the North-East by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
glad that our gallant Armed Forces have successfully stemmed the seizure of
Nigerian territories in the North-East by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
14. They have
recaptured most of the communities and territories formerly occupied by the
insurgents, making it possible for thousands of internally-displaced Nigerians
to begin returning to their homes and communities.
recaptured most of the communities and territories formerly occupied by the
insurgents, making it possible for thousands of internally-displaced Nigerians
to begin returning to their homes and communities.
15. I heartily
commend the very courageous men and women of our Armed Forces for the immense
sacrifices which they continue to make in defending the nation and protecting
its citizens.
commend the very courageous men and women of our Armed Forces for the immense
sacrifices which they continue to make in defending the nation and protecting
its citizens.
16. I also thank
all Nigerians for keeping faith with us over the past six weeks.
all Nigerians for keeping faith with us over the past six weeks.
17. I call on
all political parties and politicians in the country to allow the free,
unfettered will of our people to be expressed without any hindrance in the
coming elections in keeping with the hallowed principles and tenets of
democratic governance which we all profess.
all political parties and politicians in the country to allow the free,
unfettered will of our people to be expressed without any hindrance in the
coming elections in keeping with the hallowed principles and tenets of
democratic governance which we all profess.
18. The will of
the people freely expressed through the ballot is the bedrock of all
democracies and ours cannot be an exception.
the people freely expressed through the ballot is the bedrock of all
democracies and ours cannot be an exception.
19. Let us all
therefore be prepared, as true democrats, to graciously accept the outcome of
the elections as the rightful choice of our people from whom all political
powers in our democracy must emanate.
therefore be prepared, as true democrats, to graciously accept the outcome of
the elections as the rightful choice of our people from whom all political
powers in our democracy must emanate.
20. My
administration has done its utmost best in the past four years to deliver on
our promise to positively transform our country.
administration has done its utmost best in the past four years to deliver on
our promise to positively transform our country.
21. Tomorrow’s
election is another very important milestone as we continue our march towards
the fulfillment of our God-given potential for greatness.
election is another very important milestone as we continue our march towards
the fulfillment of our God-given potential for greatness.
22. The election
offers us another opportunity to empower leaders of our choice once again, and
to show the world that genuine democracy is alive and well in our beloved
nation.
offers us another opportunity to empower leaders of our choice once again, and
to show the world that genuine democracy is alive and well in our beloved
nation.
23. I will like
to restate my belief that no political ambition can justify violence or the
shedding of the blood of our people.
to restate my belief that no political ambition can justify violence or the
shedding of the blood of our people.
24. I reaffirm
once again, my personal preparedness to ensure fair play during the elections
and to deploy the resources and institutions of state only in the manner
prescribed by our laws.
once again, my personal preparedness to ensure fair play during the elections
and to deploy the resources and institutions of state only in the manner
prescribed by our laws.
25. Let me warn,
however, that as President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under
oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at
all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard.
however, that as President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under
oath to protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at
all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard.
26. Democracy
allows dissent. It encourages differences and even fervent disagreements. But
elections must never be mistaken for war or an opportunity to set fellow
citizens against each other and tear our beloved nation apart.
allows dissent. It encourages differences and even fervent disagreements. But
elections must never be mistaken for war or an opportunity to set fellow
citizens against each other and tear our beloved nation apart.
27. Those who
may harbor any intentions of testing our will by unleashing violence during the
elections in order to advance their political ambitions should think again as
all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who
breach the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are
speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws.
may harbor any intentions of testing our will by unleashing violence during the
elections in order to advance their political ambitions should think again as
all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who
breach the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are
speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws.
28. The nation’s
security agencies are also fully prepared and ready to deal decisively with any
group or persons who attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections
or cause any form of public disorder.
security agencies are also fully prepared and ready to deal decisively with any
group or persons who attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections
or cause any form of public disorder.
29. Our dear
country, Nigeria is the largest democracy amongst black nations of the world.
We are a nation of great accomplishments, with a proud history of evolving
affinities.
country, Nigeria is the largest democracy amongst black nations of the world.
We are a nation of great accomplishments, with a proud history of evolving
affinities.
30. Let us go out
tomorrow to vote peacefully and set a fitting example of political maturity for
other emerging democracies to follow.
tomorrow to vote peacefully and set a fitting example of political maturity for
other emerging democracies to follow.
31. I wish you
all and our dear nation, very peaceful and successful elections.
all and our dear nation, very peaceful and successful elections.
32. May God
Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
33. I thank you
all.
all.
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