Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo says the future of the country’s children compels delegates to the Special Presidential Primary Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to vote for the right aspirant to fly the party’s flag in next year’s general election.
Addressing the 2322 APC delegates who converged on Abuja to elect the party’s flag bearer, Prof. reminded them that they have an awesome responsibility and incredible moral burden in casting their votes and urged them to give the party’s ticket.
“The future of our children compels us—and compels all of you our distinguished delegates–to vote right tonight,” the Vice president stated in his speech at the convention, which had President Muhammadu Buhari, his wife, Aisha, as well as party members and observers in attended.
Religious people
Prof. Osinbajo, who was one of the 22 aspirants who were at the venue, urged the delegates to demonstrate their faith as religious people who pray for a peaceful and prosperous nation, by voting for the person they believe in.
He said; “We are a religious nation; we believe in the power of prayer, we all pray for a country that is peaceful and prosperous.
“God allows us by our voting to show him whether we mean the prayers we pray or not.
“You cannot wish this country well and vote for someone you do not believe in.
“So when you vote tonight, be sure that your vote carries the answer to your prayers for our country and our future.”
Great prospects
The vice president said he has seen and experienced the great prospects of Nigeria and known that the country can measure up with other countries in development in all sectors.
He said: “it is possible to have world-class healthcare for all Nigerians, it is possible to establish a technology economy here in Nigeria, it is possible to establish a bitumen processing industry in Ondo, gold processing in Zamfara and Osun, exploit and process the finest precious metals and stones in the world in Benue, and plateau states and most of the North-central states. We can exploit oil in the delta and south East and now in Bauchi and Gombe.
“It is possible to manufacture our vehicles in Nnewi. Already, Innoson Motors is doing great things there.
“We can open up steel plants in Kogi, establish Africa’s largest industrial city between Ogun and Lagos, we can establish the biggest gas and petrochemical plants in the world in the Niger delta, we can sell fertilizer to Africa as we already have one of the largest plants in the world, the Dangote Refinery.
“We can sell shoes to the world— already the Aba Shoe Cluster in Abia State sells over a million pairs of footwear every week to the rest of Africa.
“We can manufacture our weapons locally, DICON in Kaduna is already manufacturing munitions, and Proforce, a Nigerian company; Imperium, a Nigerian company is making armoured mobile platforms.
“We can build drones, helicopters and planes. Our air force is already manufacturing air platforms and manufacturing its own drones.
“And God helping us in two decades, we can become the first nation to land an all-black team of astronauts on the moon, we have the talent, resources and resourcefulness to be one of the World’s leading economies, we have the guts and the confidence to beat the world.
“We can run an open, honest and transparent government, ensure the rule of law and secure our nation, we can provide good-paying jobs for millions of young people in this decade lift 100m out of poverty, give all women equal opportunities, and we can establish a comprehensive social welfare programme for the poor and vulnerable.
He also spoke on developments in agriculture, infrastructure and technology.
According to Osinbajo, the seven years he has served as vice president have equipped him with knowledge of the nuances and the complexities of the challenges that confront Nigeria.
He said that he would be ready from day one as president, pointing out that the country’s circumstances would not afford Nigeria’s next leader to learn on the job.
VON