The O’odua People’s Congress, a Yoruba Socio-Cultural group, on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has about two years to perform and canvass for re-election by Nigerians in 2019.
The founder and President of OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said this at a news conference in Lagos on the state of the nation.
Fasehun, who noted that the present administration had to do more to win the confidence of Nigerians, said governance has to do with service to the people.
According to him: “Nigerians are calling on the president to raise his performance as 2019 general election approaches.
“Children don’t get promoted to the next class unless they have done well in the current class.
“Therefore, if Nigerians are saying that the current government is performing below expectations, I don’t think anybody in this current government has the right to ask Nigerians for their votes again.
“Of course, they still have about two years to perform.
“If they perform so beautifully, Nigerians can forgive them.
“But, I don’t think this government is performing up to the expectations of Nigerians.
“Perhaps, they have the magic to perform and persuade Nigerians to forgive them.
“If they have the magic, we wish them well.
“Politics is no magic, governance is no magic, it is through performance.”
Fasehun, who frowned at the recurrent killing of people by suspected herdsmen, urged the federal government to expedite action in tackling the menace before it snowballs into ethnic crisis.
He urged the president to perform his primary duty of enhancing the welfare of citizens and security of lives and property.
He said: “Security has broken down and the first duty of government is to provide security of lives and property.
“Therefore, we call on the President to act fast because he has few months left.
“He can still change the situation and make Nigeria and Nigerians great.”
Fasehun, who urged the president to revive the economy and make education free for all, also appealed to the federal government to expedite action on alleviating poverty and hardship being faced by Nigerians.
The OPC leader also urged the President to address road infrastructural decay to curb all preventable road accidents.
On the selection of Otunba Gani Adams by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo, Fasehun said the development was an attestation and acknowledgement of the performance of OPC.
… President having sleepless nights on 2019 – Oyegun
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John-Odigie Oyegun, said President Muhammadu Buhari is having sleepless nights.
Oyegun said Buhari is always thinking about how he can improve the economy and the lives of Nigerians, adding that the people want him to continue in office.
The APC chairman also declared that the party has proven that it was better than the ousted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration as the country has been restored to “the path of economic growth”.
Oyegun spoke on Tuesday at the Umuahia Township Stadium during a mega rally organised to welcome defectors from other parties.
He noted that Buhari had delivered dividends of democracy to Nigerians despite criticisms from the opposition.
“There is no question we have some hardship in the land but every minute Buhari is working to rebuild the foundation of Nigeria,” Oyegun said.
Oyegun expressed joy that the president “has changed the narrative with the massive standard gauge railway system being built to connect other parts of the country”.
He further said that the administration had made a quantum leap on power generation, saying that with the current 7000 megawatts, the country would soon begin to enjoy stable power.
On agriculture, the APC chairman expressed delight that Nigeria had become self-sufficient in rice production due to Federal Government’s pragmatic policy on rice.
“So the message I am giving you is that the bad days are coming to an end. The good days are beginning by the end of this year,” he said.
He promised to relay to the president the message from the people of Abia State urging him (Buhari) to run for a second term.
Among politicians who joined the ruling party were former governor of Abia, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, ex-Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Chief Martins Azubuike (PDP) (Isialangwa north constituency), former Deputy Gov. Chris Akomas (Progressive Peoples Alliance), former PDP governorship aspirant, Chief Uche Ogah, and retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Chief Azubuko Udah.
Others defectors were four members of the state House of Assembly, Chief Ikedi Ezekwesiri (APGA) (Umunneochi constituency), Minority Leader, Chief Solomon Okogbuo (APGA) (Bende south constituency) and Chief Theophelus Ugboajah (APGA) (Ikwuano constituency).
