President Buhari Urges Nigerians To Resist Attempt By Politicians To Disrupt Elections
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to resist all attempts by politicians to disrupt the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
In his new year message, the President also called on the citizens to play their part in ensuring that next year’s general elections are free, fair and credible.
“We must also resist every attempt to be used by politicians to create unrest in any form to disrupt the elections. We, as government will ensure such activities are met with the full force of the law,” the President said in a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu.
“We as Nigerians must also take responsibility to ensure we participate in ensuring that the 2023 elections are free and fair by not engaging in anti-state activities and other nefarious acts that may affect the run of the polls.”
While restating his administration’s commitment to conducting free and fair elections, Buhari said, “the collective electoral will and votes of Nigerians will be fulfilled, even in the twilight moments of my watch.”
According to the Nigerian leader, his government proved its commitment to the nation’s democratic ideals by signing the Amended Electoral Act that will guarantee credible polls.
He described 2023 as an important year for Africa’s most populous nation because Nigerians will go to the polls to elect credible leaders.
“This year is particularly important to me because this message is in essence valedictory. After having the honour of serving you, my compatriots, for the last seven-plus years, my tenure as your President in the most revered tradition of our ongoing and maturing democracy must necessarily come to an end.”
“In the next five months we would have gone to the polls and elected a new president along with new governors and a plethora of other elected officials at both the national and state levels,” the President added.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, called on all Nigerians to unite their efforts in the journey of taking back the nation from the cold hands of corruption, insecurity and unproductivity.
Obi reminded Nigerians that 2023 is a “very critical year that will determine the next direction of the nation.”
He explained that the nation could not continue in its all-round retrogressive movement in the coming years, as that will result in total collapse of the nation.
He said: “2023 is an existential year in the history of our nation. It is a year we all must unite against the continued abuse of our nation’s democracy and economy. The power is in our hands to take back our nation, in the coming year, and make it work.”
Calling on Nigerians to support him in saving the nation, Obi restated his commitment to securing the country, unifying the nation and moving it from consumption to production. He called on Nigerians to hold him accountable to his promises for a better nation, when given access to power.
In a similar message, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on his part urged Nigerians to maintain faith in the country, saying that it would overcome its present challenges.
In New Year message by his media office, Atiku said: “The Year 2023 is a defining moment for our great country Nigeria. I am inspired by the compelling need to provide leadership that will propel Nigeria to greater heights, to overcome our challenges and together as one recover and rebuild a united, strong and prosperous Nigeria.”
He urged Nigerians not to despair, assuring that PDP would make things right again.
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, promised to pilot Nigeria at a supersonic speed to her destination if elected president this year.
In the promise contained in his message to Nigerians, he also urged the electorate to vote wisely, charging that, “2023 is our chance to make these dreams come true. Let us seize the moment.”
