Ahead of the forthcoming presidential primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has been presented with the expression of interest and nomination form to contest.
While presenting the form to Lawan at his official guest house in Maitama, Abuja, the National Coordinator of a group which operates under the aegis of Nigeria Stability Project, Mr Sam Nkire said, the N100 million nomination form was purchased by the poor and the rich who contributed money because Nigeria needs Lawan at this this.
“We have representation of traditional rulers and professionals who have watched Nigeria we think that we need a stabilizing personality and they looked round and said you must be the one.
“The rich ones among us contributed more than the poor ones. The widows mite of the poor ones is also here.
“We didn’t want to come first, but we decided to come with the form for you to heed the calls of Nigerian. We have seen your service to humanity, to our motherland and have seen that you are the only one that can stabilize the country.”
In his submission before he presented the form, Mr Nkire described Ahmad Lawan as a stabiliser who should move into the contest to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in order to stabliise the country.
Mr Sam Nkire with APC presidential nomination form to be presented to the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan on Monday in Abuja
According to him, the Senate President has been watched by Nigerians and his unalloyed commitment to the cause of Nigeria was unquestionable, hence, members of the group who are cut across the 36 States of the Federation and the 774 Local came together to ensure that Lawan is voted in 2023 general election.
In his acceptance speech, Lawan who was flanked by some Senators described theoment.as historic, while he thanked the group for finding him worthy.
Lawan said, when he was first told to contest presidency in 2023, he commenced consultation immediately and realised that he needed to contest.
According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the best political party in Nigeria today and “that is no wonder that the party parades highest number of presidential contestants.”
He said: “Nigeria needs to be taken to the next level, we know what we have been able to achieve as an administration and as a political party and we know where we are supposed to take this level to eventually.
“I want to commit myself to this call and to this movement of Nigerians from all walks of life, rich, poor, North, South, East, West, Male, female, young and old.
“This is not my journey. It is our journey. This is our journey because every hand must be on deck for us to achieve exactly what we need to achieve.
“I am joining lately, the field is already full of other aspirants, I want to at this point assure Nigerians that the APC is a very beautiful bride and that is why we have many aspirants. I will play the game by the rules.
“I am not going to circumvent any rule, I am going to respect my party and listen to the leaders of this party because that is our platform in the first place, but I will spare no moment going from door to door to ensure that I get the votes when the national convention to elect the presidential candidate for our party will hold.
“I place my trust fully, totally and completely in the Almighty God that he will bless us, bless this movement and this journey and I want to appeal to all Nigerians that we are seriously committed to taking Nigeria to the next level from where it is today or where it will be from the 29th of may 2023 and it will be at a very solid point and going at that time needing only to be improved and consolidated.”
