From Longtong Ibrahim Yakubu (Kano), Jude Opara & Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday attributed the country’s rising wave of insecurity to powerful countries bent on destroying the Nigeria.

Buhari made the allegation yesterday in Kano at a presidential lunch after his tour around the state to commission projects by the administration of Governor Ganduje.

“One can clearly see how these foreign countries took on our weaker part of Nigeria, the Lake Chad where we have reserves of crude oil, and cause serious mayhem there with consistent attacks,” Buhari said.

But for Governor Zulum who is serious with his duty, the story of the area around Lake Chad would have been different by now, Buhari said.

The President reminded that in 2015 when he assumed office, only four of Borno’s 17 local government areas were not in the hands of Boko Haram.

“And we are aware that people are using the insurgents who are fraudulent to cause problems, but today most of these local governments [areas] are free,” he said.

The President added that those behind the insecurities knew that Borno was potentially a rich state. “That was why when I was a governor there, I went to Niger, Chad and even Cameroon because you need your neighbours to survive,” he stated.

Buhari who expressed happiness with Governor Ganduje for the infrastructural development in Kano State also commended governors of Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina and Kogi states for doing good in their respective states.

The president also urged the elite to work on the education of youths, saying the lack of education among them is a problem.

President Buhari also cracked a joke saying he has huge qualifications including that of suffering and enjoyment while reminding that he was in prison and had contested the presidency on several occasions.

PDP Condemns Attack on Buhari in Kano, Blames Tinubu, Ganduje

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has in the strongest terms condemned the attack on President Muhammadu Buhari today in Kano State by miscreants allegedly sponsored by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement by its Spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, yesterday, the PDP said the “organized attack on the person of the President is outrightly treasonable and a sacrilegious assault on our national sovereignty which must be condemned by all”.

It said it was alarmed that the attack was part of APC Presidential Candidate’s alleged plot to undermine the Presidency, cause confusion, trigger violence in the country, disrupt the conduct of the 2023 general elections and derail our democracy; having realized that he cannot win in a peaceful, free and fair electoral process.

The PDP called on Nigerians to note how Governor Abdullahi Ganduje attempted to abridge President Buhari’s movement and even tried to stop him from visiting Kano State.

“More disquieting is the fact that the APC Presidential Campaign sought to humiliate and harm President Buhari, while performing his official duties in Kano.

“It should be noted that the APC Presidential Candidate has been displaying open aversion and making inciting statements against President Buhari since Mr. President’s declaration, in line with democratic best practice all over the world, that Nigerians should freely vote for any candidate and Party of their choice in the 2023 general elections.

“The apparent frustration of Asiwaju Tinubu to resort to encourage or condone violence is fueled by his entitlement mentality, that it is his turn to be President, despite his numerous ineligibility and disability baggage,” it said.

The PDP reminded Nigerians about Tinubu’s infamous statement in London where he declared to his supporters that “political power is not going to be served in a restaurant, it is not served a la carte. It is what we are doing; It is being determined; you do it at all cost; fight for it, grab it, snatch it and run with it”.

According to the party, only recently, Asiwaju Tinubu further incited his followers against President Buhari at APC’s Presidential Rally in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he accused Mr. President of attempting to subvert the electoral process.

“It is now clearer why the APC Presidential Candidate brazenly established a militia code-named “the Jagaban Army” which is designed to undermine our national security, unleash violence on institutions of democracy and disrupt the electoral process.

The PDP counseled the APC Presidential Candidate to come to terms with the fact that Nigerians are determined to have free, fair and credible elections and that they are unwavering in their choice of the PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar as the next President of the country.

“Asiwaju Tinubu should note that no threat by any means can divert Nigerians from the path to rescue and rebuild our nation; which aspiration is embodied in Atiku Abubakar,” it said.

Atiku Promises to Restore Security, Revive Agric, Open Border

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to restore security in Zamfara State and the country at large, revive the Bakolori Dam to boost agriculture and open the land border for businesses to thrive in the state, if elected.

Atiku also promised that the Federal Government under his leadership will work with the Zamfara State Government to revitalise textile in the state which had been shut down in order to create jobs.

“I want use this opportunity to condole and sympathise with you. I know that apart from the people of Borno and Yobe states that suffered the loss of people (from insurgency and terrorism), you also suffer loss of lives as a result of banditry, armed bandits among others.

“We pray that God will bring this to an end. Vote for PDP, because APC brought this evil in the last seven to eight years of its administration.

“They (APC) brought insecurity, poverty, and disunity; our youth are not going to school because teachers are not paid in secondary and tertiary institution.

“With your vote, you will expunge them. I promised to restore peace and security in Nigeria; I see no reason why with your support and backing by the grace of God there won’t be peace in Nigeria.

“The people of Zamfara are known for trading, farming, today none of these (activities) exist, therefore with your support we will restore all businesses, ensure that all our youths are in school without hitches.

“We will work with the state government to revitalise the closed down textile company. We will open borders because it is not in line with the law. Our borders are closed while others are open,” he said.

Atiku also said that if elected, the Federal Government will assist the state to build an airport in Zamfara.