2019: ‘Buhari is our strongest selling point’

The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and gubernatorial aspirant in Yobe State Alhaji Mai Mala Buni has said that the All Progresssive Congress (APC) remains the party to beat with President Mohammadu Buhari as its strongest selling point.

Alhaji Mai Mala Buni also noted that the APC, unlike the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is not used to rigging election results but has relied on the sterling leadership and the unquestionable integrity  of President Mohammadu Buhari that has made the party garner its national assistance.

He disclosed that the defection of  some members from the party does not in any way threaten the chances of the party in the forthcoming election, adding that, “the APC still had a very good outing in Bauchi and Kogi even after the defection”.

His words: “Our major  and strongest selling point is President Mohammadu Buhari for the fact that he has demonstrated to Nigerians that he is leader and he has provided that leadership by fulfilling all the campaign promises made to the people during the 2014/2015 electioneering  campaign.

“The transformation that is ongoing in all sectors tells you why APC is the only party to beat. A Political party is an institution and you cannot extricate those periodic hick-ups but that does not mean that we have serious crisis or our chances are threatened or that we are really worried.

“Don’t forget, even after the defections, we had bye elections in Bauchi and Kogi and  we won them all. This is a clear testimony that the people of Nigeria are speaking through the ballot and not on mere propaganda.

“The APC is not known for arm-twisting or interfering into election process unlike the PDP that was use to rigging themselves into power. If APC had been known for rigging elections then  we wouldn’t have lost Bayelsa and Anambra. This implies that the APC allows democracy to flourish.

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“The successes recorded during this administration are unprecedented. You are aware that election is the only barometer to measure the acceptability of an administration, or a political party,  or an individual.

“Take Kogi for instance, it used to be under PDP but we won. The same with Ondo, Ekiti . This  tells you that the people of Nigeria have accepted APC as a party that has come to stay under the able leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari who is tirelessly  sacrificing himself for the betterment of this country especially in the area of insecurity and infrastructure and war against corruption.

“There are unprecedented discoveries and trials of  corruption cases that are ongoing. These are all clear indicators of the good leadership of our president which is our selling point. Any day, any time, we have no problem as a party. We will consolidate our gains by still committing ourselves to the betterment of the country irrespective of our states, regions, tribes or religion,” Mai Mala said.

Commenting on the controversy of budget of INEC at the National Assembly, Mai Mala said the budget is a national duty, stressing that, “I don’t think any member of the National Assembly will abdicate the reason he was elected above selfish interest”.

“We have asked the national assembly to reconvene. Particularly we have spoken to our APC legislators to reconvene and pass the budget. If I am not mistaken, we have seen the joint committee of the National Assembly interacting with INEC so I am sure they will reconvene. It is a national duty. I don’t think any member of the National Assembly will abdicate his duty that he was elected by the people to do. I don’t think any member will refuse that because the national interest supersede any other interest and consideration of this budget is a national issue  and a call to duty, so I believe they will resume soon to put that matter to rest”  he said.