2015: Kwankwaso declares, says Jonathan incompetent

The Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Tuesday formally declared
his interest in vying for the Presidential ticket of the All
Progressives Congress.
At a rally held at the Old Parade Ground, in Abuja, the Presidential
aspirant during the occasion, cast aspersions on the President
Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party administration,
describing it as incompetent.
He observed that Nigerians were today exposed to unimaginable hardship
which, he said, was due to the failure of leadership at the highest
levels.
Kwankwaso noted that the looting of public funds had gone on unabated
because those saddled with the responsibility of watching over the
nation's wealth were busy stealing it.
He also expressed sadness that the welfare of women and children as
well as the most vulnerable in society had not been given its pride of
place in the scheme of things.
The aspirant commended Nigerian youths for being angry. He said anger
in today's Nigeria was a virtue because those saddled with the
responsibility of providing a conducive atmosphere for citizens to
achieve their life's goals had failed in their responsibilities.
The governor hailed the APC for being the only party which had
internal democracy.
Kwankwaso said, "The call to save our dear country has never been
louder, clearer and more unambiguous than now. Every facet of our
national life is deteriorating. Governance has been reduced to
mediocrity, incompetence and impunity. I have no doubt in my mind that
this journey is difficult."
He also said no matter how difficult, the journey was worth embanking
on because the nation was in dire need of salvation.
Kwankwaso said should he get the job, he would concentrate on the
restoration of peace and security to the country by defeating the Boko
Haram sect.
He said, "Lives and properties of our citizens must be protected and
secured. Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency must be defeated. As a
government, we cannot afford to live in denial. Insecurity is
escalating at an alarming rate.
"Little wonder rag-tag insurgents are taking over cities and towns in
the North-East. My experiences as Nigeria's Defence Minister and as a
Special Adviser on war-torn Darfur and Somalia have shown me that
securing a nation and fighting and defeating armed insurgents is only
achievable if the forces are professionally mobilised, properly kitted
and equipped, highly spirited and correctly armed with intelligence
and ammunition. My experiences have shown me that technology must be
deployed in addition to mobilising and cultivating the support of
local communities."
The aspirant said relegating the welfare of the Armed Forces and the
Nigerian Police Force to the background would only help in compounding
the phenomenon.
He maintained that the APC as a party understood all these very well.
That was why it was requesting Nigerians to come together and vote for
the party.
"Our journey to economic prosperity will always be imperiled if the
peace and security of movements of persons and goods cannot be
guaranteed. Stopping these menaces does not require rocket science,"
he added.
Kwankwaso also promised to give priority to the war against corruption
by running a transparent and an all-inclusive government.
He noted that the impunity with which corruption was being
perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration
left no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government was working
deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians.
Nigerians, he said, had a duty to stop such people to save our country.
He also promised to build strong institutions which would take on the
anti-graft war without minding whose ox is gored. He reeled out his
achievements in various public offices he had held and promised to do
better if given the chance.
He also promised to restore Nigeria's global image through the
overhaul of the nation's foreign policy.
When contacted, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP,
Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, referred our correspondent to the party's
national publicity secretary.
Calls put through to the National Publicity Secretary of the party,
Chief Olisa Metuh, were neither picked nor replied.
A response to a text message sent to him was being awaited as of the
time of filing this report.