South West Director of the Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation, Mr Olusola Oke on Thursday, reacted to notions that the achievements of the Buhari government were not prominent, likening the situation to the construction of a building where the foundation is usually not visible until the structure is erected.
Noting that Buhari had devoted the past three and a half years to lay the foundation for the transformation of the country, Oke averred that a second term for Buhari would afford him the opportunity to build the desired superstructure for the nation.
Oke who spoke with journalists after a visit to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, at Governor’s office, Ibadan, said Nigerians had an option to proceed to Canaan land with Buhari or go back to Egypt.
“What has been our problem all this while is lack of proper foundation for our country to be transformed. President Muhammadu Buhari has devoted the past three and a half years to lay a very solid foundation.
“Why many Nigerians cannot see it is because what we are laying is a foundation. It is like you want to build a house, people who are walking past will not see the foundation until you put a superstructure there.
“It is now the time to put that structure and only those who are involved in the construction of the foundation will understand it. If you allow a new person, what that person will put on it will be different from the design.
“It means that for us to get to the next level, Buhari must remain the President of this country,” Oke said.
Noting the crucial role of the Yorubas in ensuring the reelection of Buhari, he expressed confidence that going by the fact that all South West states had APC controlled governments, votes for Buhari from the zone this time was bound to be more than that of the 2015 elections.
According to Oke, the Yorubas were not unaware of the ongoing projects in the South West as well as the need to retain power in the zone and will vote the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket.
“In this election, the Yorubas will decide who will be the President of this country and because we understand Nigeria and the dynamics more than any other region, it is clear that there are two options. One option is to go back to Egypt and another option is to go ahead to Canaan land.
“My optimism is that the Yorubas know what they are doing and are well informed so they will not be distracted from the path of honour they have undertaken from the beginning.
“You can be that assured that the votes for Buhari will increase. When we didn’t have APC governors here all through, he emerged victoriously.
“Now that we have APC government everywhere in Yoruba land, I assure you that the votes can only increase this time around and we will sustain our pride of place. We are aware the decision is made already.
“Let the PDP win and power will depart from the South West, let the APC win and power will remain in the South West. Power defines many things, we know the many projects ongoing in the South West and we don’t want them to stop. Yorubas will go for Buhari.
“This campaign is about power residing here in the South West. Obasanjo left government about 10 years ago and what we have now in the South is the Vice President and that is residing in Yoruba land. We want the power to reside there and thereafter, we will continue to be a critical factor in the determination of the leadership of Nigeria,” Oke said.
On some dissenting voices to Buhari’s election among Yoruba groups, Oke said lying below those voices was a unanimous consent that the Buhari path was the right way to go for the zone and country, at large.
“The divisions are not about Buhari but about individual interests, which is normal. We are not animals and can appreciate what is good and compete for it. If what is good is not available in quantum, there is bound to be conflicts.
“But, if you listen to every dissent, they still tell that they will do Buhari, so we are unanimous on the direction we are going. And that is the direction of sustaining the present system which we know is good for us.
“What has destroyed this country has been corruption, today, the beginning of wisdom is knowing what Buhari stands for.
“If we can reduce corruption as we have done through the Single Treasury Account. Before now, by December, over a trillion naira will have been going through accounts in different ministries. I believe irrespective the apparent disagreements here and there, we are unanimous that we should sustain what is working for Nigeria,” Oke added.
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