President Goodluck Jonathan Thursday kicked off his 2015 presidential campaign in Lagos, attacking is main rival and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Jonathan said he will focus on three critical areas (insecurity, corruption and governance) in his campaign across the 36 States and the FCT.
According to him, Buhari, who has been promising to end insecurity if elected in February 14, did not purchase single rifle for the soldiers when he was military Head of State.
The President then asked Nigerians to ask the APC candidate to tell them what he did with the defence budget when he was in charge, saying he has nothing to offer now.
Jonathan contended that his government has invested in the Armed Forces, noting that military hardware cannot be purchased overnight but over a period of time.
He told party faithful, “Somebody who wakes up and tell you people of 23 years old that he wants to fight insecurity, ask him when he was the Head of State, did he buy one rifle for the Nigerian soldiers?
“These people did not but anything for the Nigerian soldiers.
“They refused to equip them, ask them what they did with the defence budget that the whole time they were in office they couldn’t equip the Armed Forces.
“No country equip Armed Forces overnight because what they need are quite expensive, they are built over the years.
“Even if you spend $10 billion today, you cannot equip the Air Force, equip the Navy, equip the Army. The capacity is built over a period of time.
“They refused to build the capacity, they instigated crisis and now they are telling us they are going to fight insecurity.
“Ask them and they will answer”.
President Jonathan said the 2015 election will be about the young people, assuring them that he would continue to protect their interest.
He said, “2015 election is about the young people. It is either you vote to be relevant in the Nigerian history or to be irrelevant”.
Targets those voting for the first time, saying they should vote rightly “to be relevant in this country”.
He said INEC has already been directed to ensure that all eligible voters are allowed to discharge their civic duty, saying “Nigeria is for the youths, the youths must defend this country.”
He also told the party members how his government has been tackling corruption, noting that if his predecessors had fought corruption, it will not be with us today.
The President dismissed insinuations that his government is weak, saying he would not have been able to record many achievements if he was weak and lack focus.
Speaking earlier, the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, said the leadership appreciated the members for been loyal and committed.
He assured them that the PDP remains the only party that guarantees equal opportunity, adding “Whatever your ethnic group, whatever your religion, you equally have an opportunity to e whatever you intend in this party”.
Mu’azu presented party flag to President Goodluck Jonathan as party’s presidential candidate as well as to all the governorship candidates in the 36 States of the Federation.
Also speaking on behalf of the 36 governorship candidates, Jimi Agbaje of Lagos State, assured they would put up impressive campaigns that will ensure victory for the party in their respective states.
Present at the rally were Vice President Namadi Sambo, who said the Jonathan administration has transformed the country, Senate Presiudent David Mark, party chieftains, ministers and top government functionaries.
