A former Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid the stipulated N27.5m to pick the presidential nomination form of the All Progressives Congress on Monday.
Atiku picked the form after a short ceremony at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.
Speaking during the event, Atiku enjoined the party leaders to ensure a level-playing ground for all aspirants before and during the primaries.
The former vice president was the first to formally declare his intention to contest the presidential ticket and also happened to be the first to pick the nomination form.
Atiku said, “Mr. Chairman, I need not let you know my political antecedents as far as the provision of a level playing field for every member of this party because that is the only thing or one of the things that will make us different from the so called ruling party.
“Anybody who believes he has a democratic right to exercise should be given that opportunity to exercise that right. It is left to the members of this party and the Nigerian public to make a decision.
“I don’t think it is the responsibility of any one of us as an individual or group to decide for this party or its membership for the people of this country. Yes, as leaders, we have a responsibility to guide those coming behind but the guidance should be based on this firmly rooted democratic principles.
“Mr. Chairman, therefore, it is my singular honor and privilege to hand over to you or your representative two receipts: one, presidential expression of interest and the second one, presidential nomination form all totaling N27.5m and I believe I am now entitled to receive my forms and then go onto the next stage.”
The APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, prayed that God should give to Nigerians a President that would defend the interest of Nigeria, which other Africa nations would look at the country before other in the comity of nations.
Oyegun said the party was looking forward to a contest that would be rancour free, believing that one of them would eventually emerge with others joining hands to make sure that Nigeria becomes a pride of the black nation.
Earlier, the former Vice President unveiled plans by his campaign to host a policy review summit at the Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, on the October 27, 2014.
Atiku made this plan public at a press briefing in Abuja.
He said he was not perturbed about who endorsed him or not because the ultimate decision remained with the Nigerian people.
0 comments :
Post a Comment