Tambuwal added that the presidency remains the symbol of the country, assuring that he won’t fan the ember of ethnicity or exhibit those tendencies that would make Nigerians perceive him as a sectional leader, as being allegedly experienced under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Tambuwal, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday while meeting with PDP delegates in advancement of his aspiration, said he decided to contest the 2019 presidency, having realised the lopsidedness in President Buhari’s government in terms of poor performance and failure of governance.
He said he had ruminated on the cost of being a President of a complex nation like Nigeria and was determined to offer dynamic leadership that would unify Nigeria and make it a potent force that would be recognized globally.
The Sokoto State Governor urged the PDP members not to waver in spite of alleged oppression and humiliation being meted on some of their leaders by the APC-led federal government.
The PDP presidential aspirant said: “The focus of every Nigerian in 2019 is to vote for a President that is Pan-Nigerian. A man who is not an ethnic jingoist or a religious bigot,
“We are all aware that the present government is desperate to perpetuate itself in power.
They are ready to do those things outside the laws of the land to remain in power. That was why they have been harassing leaders like Governor Ayodele Fayose.
“You must try and give the PDP flag to someone who believes in the unification of this country, Someone who has traversed the length and breadth of this nation. Someone who has moved from Maiduguri to Lagos, from Portharcourt to Sokoto and from the East to the extreme North as a private person.
“As the former Deputy Minority Whip, Minority Leader and Speaker in the House of Representatives, I have an idea about the geographical configuration of this nation, so I am in good position to respect individual rights.
“I will not be that President that will shut the doors against restructuring, I will even facilitate debate that will quickly enhance true and proper fiscal federalism. As a leader, it is not good for you to impose your will on the people, you must allow diverse opinions based on our religious and ethnic diversity.
“As a President, I will respect the Rule of Law. I won’t be a President that would say National security is higher than the rights of individuals. I will ensure we have peace across the nation through enhanced technology to build security architecture that will protect Nigerians”, Tambuwal said.
He urged members of the party to be resolute in spite of the alleged intimidation of members using the state apparatuses, saying : “We need a courageous PDP to take over power in 2019.
“ I thank Governor Fayose for his resilience and leadership, because if not for people like him, the PDP would not have been where it is today. Governor Fayose has fought hard to reposition the party in Ekiti and at national levels”, he noted.
Governor Fayose, while speaking described the APC-led federal government as a ‘monster’ that was only allegedly interested in oppressing people with power, rather than transforming their lives.
The Governor lambasted the federal government for allegedly excluding Ekiti from benefiting from N2.5 billion Budget support and N11 billion Paris Club funds released to some states recently, saying such was anti-democratic and against the principles of federation.
He urged the Sokoto State Governor and presidential aspirant to campaign for the PDP the way he did in 2015 for President Buhari.
The Governor said: “You(Tambuwal) were one of those who repackaged President Buhari in 2015 and ensured he won the presidential election. You must make sure you do same in the 2019 election.
“Everyone knows that we need a youthful President with energy. Someone who can see Nigeria as one indivisible entity, not a tribalist and religious bigot. The treasure of any man is his vitality, which would make him work harder to deliver his people from poverty.
“Look at what they did now, they excluded Ekiti from N11.6b Paris Club and N2.5b budget support fund I would have used to pay the backlog of salaries.
“I want to appeal to all workers to ensure that the money is not diverted. They should ensure that it was used to pay their salaries the way I would have loved to do.
“So, in selecting the presidential candidate for our party, Ekiti delegates will vote wisely. We will vote for a president we can trust and the one that will see all Nigerians as one”, he said.
