From The State House…
1. As we prepare to go to the polls
tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to express my immense
appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation
of ours in the past four years.
tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to express my immense
appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation
of ours in the past four years.
2. I also wish to place on record,
once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you have given my
administration without which the significant progress we have made in
recent years would not have been possible. Continue…
once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you have given my
administration without which the significant progress we have made in
recent years would not have been possible. Continue…
3. In spite of the many challenges we
have had to contend with since 1999, our present democratic dispensation
continues to endure and grow stronger in keeping with the yearnings and
aspirations of our people.
have had to contend with since 1999, our present democratic dispensation
continues to endure and grow stronger in keeping with the yearnings and
aspirations of our people.
4. We have all worked very hard to
nurture and strengthen our democratic institutions and promote the good
governance practices which they were designed to deliver for the better
well-being of our people.
nurture and strengthen our democratic institutions and promote the good
governance practices which they were designed to deliver for the better
well-being of our people.
5. I believe I can say without fear of
contradiction that we all clearly cherish the democracy we now have and
will never willingly give it up for any other form of governance.
contradiction that we all clearly cherish the democracy we now have and
will never willingly give it up for any other form of governance.
6. This much-cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to the test once again.
7. I urge you all to troop out
en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting for leaders of
your choice tomorrow.
en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting for leaders of
your choice tomorrow.
8. As we do so, let us all – political
party leaders, contestants, party members, party agents, supporters and
ordinary voters alike, be very conscious of the fact that the eyes of
the entire world are on us.
party leaders, contestants, party members, party agents, supporters and
ordinary voters alike, be very conscious of the fact that the eyes of
the entire world are on us.
9. We must therefore comport ourselves
in a manner that will further strengthen our democracy and consolidate
our place in the comity of truly democratic nations.
in a manner that will further strengthen our democracy and consolidate
our place in the comity of truly democratic nations.
10. I made a commitment on assumption of
office to progressively deliver freer, fairer and more credible
elections in our country. In keeping with that commitment, the Federal
Government has given the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it conducts very successful
elections tomorrow and on April 11.
office to progressively deliver freer, fairer and more credible
elections in our country. In keeping with that commitment, the Federal
Government has given the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) all necessary support to ensure that it conducts very successful
elections tomorrow and on April 11.
11. We have all been assured that INEC is
fully ready for the elections. I believe that we can all trust that
they are certainly more ready now than they may have been before
security issues and other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of the
dates for the 2015 general elections.
fully ready for the elections. I believe that we can all trust that
they are certainly more ready now than they may have been before
security issues and other concerns necessitated a re-scheduling of the
dates for the 2015 general elections.
12. As an administration, we welcome the
fact that millions of Nigerians who were yet to receive their Permanent
Voters Cards (PVCs) as at February 14, and would therefore have been
unfairly disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead on that date, have
seized the opportunity of the re-scheduling to collect their cards and
can now exercise their right to vote tomorrow.
fact that millions of Nigerians who were yet to receive their Permanent
Voters Cards (PVCs) as at February 14, and would therefore have been
unfairly disenfranchised if the polls had gone ahead on that date, have
seized the opportunity of the re-scheduling to collect their cards and
can now exercise their right to vote tomorrow.
13. We are also glad that our gallant
Armed Forces have successfully stemmed the seizure of Nigerian
territories in the North-East by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
Armed Forces have successfully stemmed the seizure of Nigerian
territories in the North-East by the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
14. They have recaptured most of the
communities and territories formerly occupied by the insurgents, making
it possible for thousands of internally-displaced Nigerians to begin
returning to their homes and communities.
communities and territories formerly occupied by the insurgents, making
it possible for thousands of internally-displaced Nigerians to begin
returning to their homes and communities.
15. I heartily commend the very courageous
men and women of our Armed Forces for the immense sacrifices which they
continue to make in defending the nation and protecting its citizens.
men and women of our Armed Forces for the immense sacrifices which they
continue to make in defending the nation and protecting its citizens.
16. I also thank all Nigerians for keeping faith with us over the past six weeks.
17. I call on all political parties and
politicians in the country to allow the free, unfettered will of our
people to be expressed without any hindrance in the coming elections in
keeping with the hallowed principles and tenets of democratic governance
which we all profess.
politicians in the country to allow the free, unfettered will of our
people to be expressed without any hindrance in the coming elections in
keeping with the hallowed principles and tenets of democratic governance
which we all profess.
18. The will of the people freely expressed
through the ballot is the bedrock of all democracies and ours cannot be
an exception.
through the ballot is the bedrock of all democracies and ours cannot be
an exception.
19. Let us all therefore be prepared, as
true democrats, to graciously accept the outcome of the elections as the
rightful choice of our people from whom all political powers in our
democracy must emanate.
true democrats, to graciously accept the outcome of the elections as the
rightful choice of our people from whom all political powers in our
democracy must emanate.
20. My administration has done its utmost
best in the past four years to deliver on our promise to positively
transform our country.
best in the past four years to deliver on our promise to positively
transform our country.
21. Tomorrow’s election is another very
important milestone as we continue our march towards the fulfillment of
our God-given potential for greatness.
important milestone as we continue our march towards the fulfillment of
our God-given potential for greatness.
22. The election offers us another
opportunity to empower leaders of our choice once again, and to show the
world that genuine democracy is alive and well in our beloved nation.
opportunity to empower leaders of our choice once again, and to show the
world that genuine democracy is alive and well in our beloved nation.
23. I will like to restate my belief that
no political ambition can justify violence or the shedding of the blood
of our people.
no political ambition can justify violence or the shedding of the blood
of our people.
24. I reaffirm once again, my personal
preparedness to ensure fair play during the elections and to deploy the
resources and institutions of state only in the manner prescribed by our
laws.
preparedness to ensure fair play during the elections and to deploy the
resources and institutions of state only in the manner prescribed by our
laws.
25. Let me warn, however, that as
President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under oath to
protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at
all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard.
President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am under oath to
protect the lives of all Nigerians and the security of our country at
all times. I will never abdicate my responsibilities in that regard.
26. Democracy allows dissent. It encourages
differences and even fervent disagreements. But elections must never be
mistaken for war or an opportunity to set fellow citizens against each
other and tear our beloved nation apart.
differences and even fervent disagreements. But elections must never be
mistaken for war or an opportunity to set fellow citizens against each
other and tear our beloved nation apart.
27. Those who may harbor any intentions of
testing our will by unleashing violence during the elections in order
to advance their political ambitions should think again as all necessary
measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach
the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are
speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws.
testing our will by unleashing violence during the elections in order
to advance their political ambitions should think again as all necessary
measures have been put in place to ensure that any persons who breach
the peace or cause public disorder during or after the elections are
speedily apprehended and summarily dealt with according to our laws.
28. The nation’s security agencies are also
fully prepared and ready to deal decisively with any group or persons
who attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections or cause
any form of public disorder.
fully prepared and ready to deal decisively with any group or persons
who attempt to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections or cause
any form of public disorder.
29. Our dear country, Nigeria is the
largest democracy amongst black nations of the world. We are a nation of
great accomplishments, with a proud history of evolving affinities.
largest democracy amongst black nations of the world. We are a nation of
great accomplishments, with a proud history of evolving affinities.
30. Let us go out tomorrow to vote
peacefully and set a fitting example of political maturity for other
emerging democracies to follow.
peacefully and set a fitting example of political maturity for other
emerging democracies to follow.
31. I wish you all and our dear nation, very peaceful and successful elections.
32. May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
33. I thank you all.
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