General Muhammed Buhari, presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday took his campaign to the doorsteps of President Goodluck Jonathan in Yenagoa where he pledged to revamp the agricultural and power sectors if elected next month.[slideshow]37063[/slideshow]
Addressing a massive crowd, the APC flag-bearer noted that Bayelsa was blessed with a suitable climate and fertile land for large scale agriculture which will be harnessed to drive economic development.
He regretted the inability of the Jonathan administration to develop even Bayelsa, his own home state, and promised to reverse the trend.
He said that power was critical to unlock the potentials of Nigerian entrepreneurs and will be a cardinal part of his economic programme.
Buhari also pledged to embark on skills acquisition and empowerment schemes that would benefit the teeming unemployed youths in the state.
He was accompanied on the campaign tour by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of APC; Chief Timiprie Sylva, former Governor of Bayelsa; campaign coordinator Amaechi, the governor of Rivers State, and many top officials of the party.
On corruption, the former Head of State reiterated that under his government, anyone caught stealing public funds will be punished and compelled to return it.
He urged registered voters in the state to collect their Permanent Voters Cards before the February 14 general elections.
Speaking earlier, Governor Amaechi expressed satisfaction with the impressive turnout of party loyalists and expressed optimism that APC will be victorious at all levels of the elections.
Amaechi stressed that the elections will be merit-based and called on the people to protect their votes, reiterating that APC was poised to reverse the underdevelopment of Bayelsa.
In that regard, he joined the presidential candidate in wondering loudly why President Jonathan could not develop his home state.
“In the case of Rivers they said he refused to develop Rivers because he is quarrelling with me but let me ask you: is your son Jonathan (also) quarrelling with [Governor] Dickson?
“Why do they say “charity begins at home?” he asked rhetorically. We expect Bayelsa to be a model state,” Amaechi said.
Also speaking, Bayelsa State APC chairman, Chief Timipa Orunimighe declared that the successful hosting of the presidential rally marked the beginning of change in the history of the state.