President Muhammadu Buhari has described the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary as one of the most competitive and peaceful in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.
In a letter to Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State and Chairman of the Progressives Governor Forum, the President praised the role he played in the success of the primary that produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s candidate for the 2023 elections.
Below are excerpts from the letter as shared by Mr Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant.
‘‘I was pleased to see how you were very professional and efficient in handling the sensitive political position of Chairman Progressives Governors Forum.
‘‘Your commitment in pursuit of equity and fairness speaks volumes in the cooperation displayed by APC Governors. This indeed demonstrates the camaraderie that brought us together over 8 years ago.
‘‘The party primaries were peacefully conducted and the delegates have selected the candidate to carry the APC flag in the 2023 Presidential Primaries.
‘‘Today, as a patriotic APC member and stakeholder, I trust that you will come together to work with our candidate to win the 2023 elections.
‘‘In the past 7 years in government, we have achieved a lot. However, we have a lot more to do. The APC project is far from over and we need all of you to come together to ensure our progressive journey to peace and prosperity is sustained.
‘‘Our candidate, His Excellency, Sen, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is no stranger to you. He is our friend and brother. We know his commitment, his track record, and his capacity to lead our party to success. So now is the time for all of us to come together and march forward, as we did in 2015, to a convincing APC victory.
‘‘I look forward to working closely with APC Governors to support Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all our APC candidates to success in 2023.
‘‘While I wish our great part success in the 2023 elections, please accept, the assurances of my consideration and personal regards.’’
President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), asked the party to unite behind its presidential flagbearer in the 2023 elections, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his congratulatory statement signed by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the president said Tinubu having emerged victorious, has the party’s full and unwavering support.
“Now our party must unite behind our candidate to achieve victory at the 2023 elections so that our government will continue to secure our communities, grow our economy and continue the fight against corruption.
“During the Primaries, there were factions and disagreements amongst the contestants and now that the process has ended we must build a united front in our party.
“In this way, the APC will remain the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. Now it is time to put the process behind us.
“Because what we can all agree is that the APC remains the party that can best deliver on the priorities of the Nigerian people. But the way to demonstrate that we can get on with this job is to unite.
“The movement we created in 2013 is beyond individuals. Together, we made history by becoming the first party in our country’s history to unseat a party in power and propel our candidate into the Presidency through a peaceful democratic transfer of power”.
President Buhari further asserted that the party strongly believes that Bola Ahmed Tinubu will safeguard and improve on the democratic achievements and legacies of the APC.
According to the president, Tinubu is the right candidate for Nigeria’s aspiration because he is the APC’s candidate and under the continued stewardship of the party, Nigeria can achieve greatness and fulfill its destiny in Africa and the World.