By Dwelleth Morountodun
The duo of President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, both presidential flag bearers
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have vowed to ensure free and fair polls that will give credibility to the February 16 elections.
Buhari who addressed APC supporters at different occasions, on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, gave assurance that the poll will be free.
Speaking through a statement signed by Mr. Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Adviser on Media, said the disclosure was at the instance of his meeting with traditional rulers at the secretariat complexes of the Councils of Traditional Rulers of the two states.
He said: “I assure you that I’m all out for free, fair and credible elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC knows my stand on this.
“Nigerians are assured of free and fair elections. Under this leadership, nobody will be allowed to intimidate other citizens. Nobody will be allowed to snatch ballot boxes and run with them. I will make sure that the votes count.”
President Buhari commended the introduction of the Permanent Voters Card, PVC and Card Reader, and urged the nation to embrace the technology, arguing that without it, the sixteen years of misrule by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would not have been brought to an end.
“In 16 years, the PDP thought nobody could remove them from office. The introduction of the PVC and Card Reader made sure that our votes counted in 2015 and the votes of Nigerians will count in 2019,” he stressed.
On the issue of security, the President repeated his commitment to ensure the protection of lives, property and the territorial integrity of the nation, while urging the traditional rulers to play their part as expected of them.
“The question of security begins with you,” the President told the royal fathers, even as he commended them for calming down the restive situation in the Niger Delta.
“Through you, we have been able to persuade the militants to change their attitudes. I congratulate you on the roles you played that stabilized the security and the economy of the country,” he said.
Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, at the reception commended President Buhari for his statesmanship and love for the country.
On his part, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State called for a peaceful conduct of the elections.
The Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty Alfred Diette-Spiff, who commended the President for the appointment of citizens of Bayelsa into key positions and the infrastructure projects being put in place, added that the state deserved more.
His counterpart in Rivers State, Dr. Dandeson Douglas Jaja, King Jaja of Opobo, while calling for free and fair elections, also appealed to the President to ensure that security agents remained non-partisan throughout the exercise.
In another development, the Media Aide, to Atiku, Mr. Paul Ibe, in a statement said the PDP flag bearer, wishes to reaffirm to Nigerians and the world, of his commitment to peace and democracy and urges all contestants and parties involved in the elections to publicly do the same.
Atiku, he said urges all Nigerians to peacefully troop out in their numbers to vote according to their conscience and dictates. A large voter turnout makes it even more difficult, and perhaps impossible to rig elections.
However, he expressed disappointment that former President Bill Clinton could not make his visit to Nigeria, adding: “We understand the reasons given by President Clinton and wish the situation on the ground were more ideal as to make his visit more conducive.
“We quite understand the reasons given by President Clinton, coming especially after the unfortunate “body bag” comment emanating from the All Progressives Congress.”
Atiku, also notes the harassment of friends of Nigeria by the Buhari administration and its agents and privies, who have taken to releasing and uttering statements threatening diplomats and election observers.
“We wish to make known to these individuals the fact that Nigeria has long-standing friends and it will be myopic to burn those bridges on the altar of desperation.” the statement added.