Agaju Madugba, Katsina
President Muhammadu Buhari concluded his re-election campaign tour of the country with a grand rally at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, yesterday, where he listed restoration of peace in the North East as one of the major achievements of his administration; since inception in 2015.
Buhari said his government has been able to curtail the activities of Boko Haram as 17 local government areas in Borno State, which were hitherto under the control of insurgents, have been reclaimed from them.
The president’s statement came less than 24 hours after Boko Haram attacked the campaign train of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, killing five and injuring several others.
Regardless, Buhari reiterated to the mammoth crowd that “peace has returned to the North East and the people living there can testify to this.
“When we came in in 2015, about 17 local governments were under the control of Boko Haram but currently, there is no area under the their control.
“My administration has also succeeded in curtailing the importation of rice and encouraged local production and empowered rice farmers across the country. We have been able to build infrastructure, using money saved from stoppage of rice importation.
“My decision to seek re-election was informed by the need to complete the projects and policies already embarked upon and the policy of ban on rice importation saves the country over N500 million; which is being channeled to infrastructural development, including projects like roads, rail lines and ports.”
Earlier, the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said he was overwhelmed by the massive turnout of supporters and attributed the development to what he described as “the love which the people have for the president.
“President Buhari has every reason to feel fulfilled. I am witness to the fact that he is well accepted in his home state and this has put his enemies to shame.
“They also thought that president Buhari would not be able to go round and campaign for his re- election but, he has gone around and campaigned in the 36 states and the FCT.
“By this time on Saturday, we will have the early signs that Buhari will emerge victorious at the presidential poll.”
Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, in his address, urged the people to turn out en masse to give Buhari their votes, “in order to continue to reap the dividends of democracy.”
The rally attracted a number of APC chieftains from across the country, including Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, as well as the Director General of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, among others.
Describing the rally as “very successful,” Katsina State Coordinator of “One 2 Tell 10,” one of the Buhari support groups, Dr. Mannir El-Yakub, told Daily Sun: “I assure you that the crowd you see here is a reflection of what is going to happen on Saturday, at polling stations across the North because the people have shown that they want the president to continue in office and build on the achievements he has already recorded.
“For every state in the North, we have ensured that president Muhammadu gets at least one million votes and that means 19 million votes from the North alone.”
Buhari had, on arrival at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport on Thursday afternoon, proceeded to the palace of the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, where he told the traditional ruler that his administration will sustain the fight against corruption and insurgency as well as continual revival of the economy.
Buhari later proceeded to his Daura hometown, where he is expected to vote tomorrow.