By Olukayode Michael
The All Progressives Congress (APC) bigwigs led by the National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, took former President Oluegun Obasanjo to the cleaners at the party’s presidential campaign in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Mr Obasanjo had on Sunday attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, in a 16-page letter, asking him to retire peacefully to his Daura home and stop seeking the renewal of his term at the Presidential election which comes up next month.
Mr Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State and the Campaign Co-Chairman, described the former president as one of the expired leaders who ought to have retired to his Ota Farm.
He said, “It is unfortunate that expired leaders like Olusegun Obasanjo is ranting and lying. Don’t trust him. We are sweeping all the cobwebs of corruption away with broom out of Nigeria. Ota farm should be enough , a retirement place for Obasanjo to keep quiet.
He said: “Who among Nigerians will recall how the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) government under Obasanjo had been notorious for rigging elections. No government has uphold the tenets of democracy like the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. We asked for the recognition of June 12 from Obasanjo, he refused, but President Muhammadu Buhari as an honest man with integrity heard our cry and recognised June 12.
“Even if the forum of association of angry old men refuse to vote for Buhari, we will give him 95 percent votes.”
Tinubu noted that four years ago, the APC had promised to put the ship of Nigeria to the right direction, which the party has done.
He said: “Four years ago, we came and promised you that the ship of this country will be taken to the right direction, and that we have done slow, steady and stable.”
The Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who later took his turn, described the former president in many uncomplimentary remarks, said Obasanjo attack was out of frustration when he said that the South South which used to be the stronghold of PDP had caught the Buhari fever.
He said Obasanjo was unsettled when he saw what happened in Delta State during the APC campaign there, and hurriedly went to the toilet for five times for running stomach.
He said: “The people writing epistle now watched how money meant for security was appropriated by not only the PDP but Generals. Under their watch, over 20 local government areas of Borno state was taken over by the Boko Haram terrorists before the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Today no matter what they want to say, there is no local government where Boko Haram is hoisting their flag. All the 27 local government areas of Borno have been liberated by APC government.”
The Director General of Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation and the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amechi said under PDP government as a result of impunity his security details were withdrawn.
He added that due to the PDP rigging formula, vote did not count in south south during election except announcement of results as the party wished.
The host and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, assured President Muhammadu Buhari of over two million votes from the state.
He said, “We in Borno, we don’t know any other party than the APC. Allah brought President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver people of Borno from the hands of our oppressors. By the grace of Allah! Allah! Allah!, come February 16th, 2019, if we are not the first highest voters for you, we will be the second.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, who addressed the crowd in Hausa thanked them for their support and restated the commitment of his administration to fight against corruption, insecurity as well as improved the economy if re-elected in next month election.
The campaign team was welcome to the state by unprecedented crowd, which were aided by the declaration of a public holiday by the state government.
There were little vehicles on the road, as massive crowd trekked to the campaign ground which was filled up as early as 9am.
One the low points in the campaign was when one of the pavilions collapsed injuring dozens of people during a stampede.
The people who thronged to see the president as he mounted the podium to give an address were stampeded.
The crowd had greeted him with chants of “Baba Oyoyo”
The atmosphere became uncontrollable and tense for the hundreds of security personnel who had to use the baton to push them back.
This caused one of the pavilions to give way and collapsed, injuring several people.
Rescuers from the Red Cross moved several wounded to the State Specialist Hospital in the capital for treatment.