Posted by FROM JOHN ABBA-OGBODO, ABUJA on
AFTER months of preparations amidst insinuations that he was just a decoy for stronger candidates, the former military administrator of Lagos State, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa yesterday in Abuja flagged off his presidential campaign....
AFTER months of preparations amidst insinuations that he was just a decoy for stronger candidates, the former military administrator of Lagos State, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa yesterday in Abuja flagged off his presidential campaign with a pledge to consolidate the ongoing reforms of President Obasanjo, but with a human face.
Addressing a crowd of supporters at the Eagle Square, Abuja, Marwa said: "Without a doubt, today's event, which is the formal launching and flagging off of my campaign for the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a logical end result of a series of events, activities and processes that commenced appropriately three years ago."
Marwa said he believed fervently that this kind of quest should not be an after-thought but based on conviction and full consultation with all stakeholders.
His words: "This kind of quest wherein an individual is called upon to deploy all his or her God-given gifts, talents and endowments to the service for the service of fatherland and for the achievement of the greatest number of our people, should not be an after-thought.
"I took out time to travel the entire length and breadth of the country, consulting with key political leaders and stakeholders; leaders of national, ethnic and social cultural associations; clerical and religious leaders; youth and women structures, professional organisations and the intelligentsia about our democratic process, issues, problems and the proper anchoring of the gains of the ongoing, broad based economic reforms.
"By answering the call of history today, in the midst of our people whose eager heartbeats and expectant passion await the final determination of this noble quest and desire, I have no doubt in my mind that I have taken yet another decisive step towards its realisation, trusting in the will of God whose grace and blessing only can deliver to us, mere mortals, all that we seek if it is our destiny."
Marwa said his administration would fix loopholes in defence and security infrastructure, education and human services, agriculture, water resources, general economic direction of the state, petroleum and natural gas development, power and energy development, industrialisation and manufacturing sector development, transport and mobility.
Others include telecommunications, science and technology, affordable housing, sports, culture and tourism, policy on disabled, youth, women and the aged, environment and ecology, solid minerals' development, resource control, Niger Delta and the oil producing states.
The occasion was attended by members of the international community, including the British High Commissioner, Richard Gozney; members of the National Assembly and different socio-cultural groups from across the country.