Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in his broadcast to the nation on Thursday promised a peaceful election while enjoining Nigerians to come out to vote.
Buhari, who is seeking reelection to office on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, assured Nigerians and the international body of a “secure and peaceful atmosphere” during the polls.
He noted that threats of intimidation from any source do not represent the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He also pleaded with the youth to eschew violence and destruction.
The president, thereafter, spoke at length on what his administration had achieved during their tenure before stating that his party is clearly the preferred choice because of the things they have achieved.
“If they are only hoping to do what we are already doing successfully, we are clearly your preferred choice.”Think carefully and choose wisely. This time, it is a choice about consolidating on growth for Jobs and Prosperity.
“February 16th is all about a choice. But it is more than a choice between APC and the opposition. It is a choice about you, it is a choice between going back or keeping the momentum of CHANGE,” Buhari said.
Buhari’s reelection bid faces stiff opposition from former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party while younger upstarts like Prof Kingsley Moghalu, Omoyele Sowore and Fela Durotoye are also in the race to rule Africa’s most populous nation.
He went ahead to reaffirm the commitment of the Federal Government to the conducting of free and fair elections in a safe and peaceful atmosphere following the signing of the Peace Accord alongside 72 other presidential candidates.”
I want to assure all Nigerians, the diplomatic community and all foreign election observers of their safety and full protection. Any comments or threats of intimidation from any source do not represent the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria” he added.
He also went ahead and made a special appeal to our youth who make a great population in the vast nation, ”Do not allow yourselves to be used to cause violence and destruction. The people who want to incite you are those preparing the ground for discrediting the elections. Having lost the argument, they fear losing the elections”.