- Urges delegates to choose wisely
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said on Tuesday night that he has acquired sufficient experience to fly the flag of his party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) and run the affairs of this country as President.
Lawan, a Presidential aspirant, made remarks while addressing the delegates shortly before the voting commenced at the Presidential primary of the party which held at Eagle Square, Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari was also in attendance at the event.
Lawan said: “Tonight, we are making history. Our great party is making history. Next year, 29th May, 2023, Mr President, your tenure would have been full cycle and by the Grace of God, it will be.
“This event is a special event. For us to elect the next person to fly the flag of our party in next year Presidential election.
“Your Excellency has provided a great deal of leadership in governance and in the running if our party. That’s why we are here
“This administration, from 2015 to date, under your distinguished leadership, has done so much for this country and APC has made it’s mark.
“You have laid foundation for whoever will emerge this night to fly the flag of our party to start on such a very solid and strong foundation and we are very proud of your achievements in the last seven years.
“Your Excellency, you have provided leadership for this party even when it will appear like we have difficult looking insurmountable. The moment you stepped in, things became straight and streamlined. And this is how APC will be. APC will always be strong because you have set it on a very strong pedestal.
“l am running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because I believe that this party has been built well around ideals that all of us here share.
“Today, we are proud that having sustained our economy, that despite all the difficulties in the world, our economy is still experiencing growth.
“I believe that the way and manner we dealt with insurgency in the Northeast is the same way that we will deal and conquer the banditry and kidnapping in the northwest and some parts of the Northcentral.
“I will therefore appeal to you(delegates) to look very closely, ensure that we elect someone who will ensure that the achievements so far by our administration are consolidated and others continue
“I am of the parliament. I come from the parliament. I am a parliamentarian having spent 23 years in the National Assembly, having chaired very strategic committees of Agriculture and Education, having chaired the very important opposition Committee, the Public Account Committee, having served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, having served as the majority leader of the Senate, I’m serving as the President of the Senate by the Grace of God, I am eminently qualified.
“Distinguished delegates, let me tell you that, worldwide, the developed democracies are run by parliamentarians. Developed democracies are governed by parliamentarians.
“If you go to parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is always an elected parliamentarian. If you go to the US and similar democracies, senators and members of the Congress run the country.
“In the US, President Joe Biden was in the Senate of the United States of America. President Barack Obama was also a Senator in the Senate of the US.
“I have acquired sufficient experience, working very closely with Mr President. As the Presiding officer and Chairman of the National Assembly, I have learnt a lot and by the Grace of God, if you elect me this night, I will continue and consolidate those massive achievements Mr President and the APC administration have achieved.”
