An organization based in the United Kingdom, BUHARI SUPPORT ORGANISATION
DIASPORA UK, an umbrella group of several Muhammadu Buhari supporters, has
endorsed General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of All
Progressives Congress (APC), for the presidency at next month’s election.
This was contained in the communique of at least five (5) groups who
jointly hosted the representative of General Buhari, Hon Farouk Adamu
Aliyu, to a well-attended and educative Interactive Evening in London on
Monday 26th January 2015.
The groups who came together to establish a united Nigerian front for the
General are: Buhari Diaspora Organisation, Buhari Friends Organisation
Network, Progression Solidarity Forum, Buhari Vendors, General Muhammadu
Buhari Grassroots Mobilisation and the Diaspora For Buhari Project.
With the Convener of the group, and Chairman of the event, Chief Wale
Kalejaiye welcoming the guest, Hon Farouk Aliyu to London, as well as the
audience, the session kicked off to a good start with the introduction of
special guests, amongst who are the His Worshipful Mayor of Lambeth,
Councillor Adedamola Aminu; Chief (Dr) Ibrahim Emokpaire (Chair APC-UK);
Hon Odaro Omorege; Alhaji Abdulkadir Maikudi; Dr Dapo Oshun-Williams; Mrs
Jana Shodiya (Ayaba); Mr Rasheed Taiwo; Mr Charles Emuko-Whate; Chief
(Mrs) Uche Mill; Air Vice Marshall (Rtd) Funsho Martin (Parton, Hope
Movement) amongst others.
Hon Farouk Aliyu introduced himself and apologised on behalf of GMB,
explaining that the schedule of the election campaign in Nigeria put a
constraint on the travel plans of the General, who has now had to shelve
plans to travel to the Vatican, the US and the UK before the election on
14 February. However, GMB sent his goodwill messages and warm wishes to
his supporters in the UK and the Diaspora in general. He assured
Nigerians of the right CHANGE and that he and his running mate, Professor
Yemi Osinbajo are committed to doing their utmost to ensure Nigeria is
turned around. He especially reiterated that Prof Osinbajo has been of
tremendous assistance to the cause – dedicated, loyal, focused,
knowledgeable and a true and patriotic Nigerian
He assured the enthusiastic audience that the GMB/PYO group, as well as
the party itself have identified the problems and the real issues
affecting the people of Nigeria and are working towards readiness to
tackle them once they get into power.
Hon Aliyu talked about issues and how GMB/PYO are planning to tackle them:
corruption, education, insecurity of life and property from Boko Haram,
failure of the PDP to turn the country around in 16 years of being in
power, etc
He further said that they do not want any violence or bloodshed and that
the GBM/PYO will concede and accept defeat if the elections are free and
fair. They will only go to court if they know a lot of rigging has
occurred to put the PDP government back in power.
He assure the audience that all the negative perceptions of Buhari –
religious fanatic who is against Christians, Fulani hegemony who believes
in “born-to-rule”, rigid, certificate, etc – has been debunked already in
Nigeria and around the world and would not serve the PDP well to continue
to dish out falsehood and slander.
Chief Wale Kalejaiye, in his response said there are more than 2 million
Nigerians in the UK alone and about 14 million worldwide. He assured
GMB/PYO of the Diaspora’s highest esteem, and promises to continue to work
for them to win the election, as well as to provide support even after the
election to ensure Nigeria changes for good. He said most Nigerians in the
Diaspora believe that the GMB/PYO is a good combination and ideal
candidates for Nigeria’s emancipation and redemption.
The Mayor of Lambeth also took this opportunity to endorse General Buhari,
and emphasised that political manifestoes are just pieces of papers unless
the contents are implemented, not only nationally, but down to the states
and local government levels so that all the levels of governments are
working at the same level of understanding and in tandem to develop the
country. Only when this is done will a manifesto be considered effective
and implemented. He also called on GMB/PYO never to forget Nigerians in
Diaspora and their achievements in various areas of human endeavour all
over the world. He pointed out the amount in billions of Dollars and
Pounds Sterling that Nigerians repatriate home every year, which is more
than the entire budget of several states in Nigeria. Nigerians abroad are
assets to Nigeria and must be recognised and exploited by any responsible
government that wishes to do well for its citizens. He urged Brain Gain
instead of Brain Drain, and assured all that Nigerians abroad are always
ready to contribute to and serve their country if sincerely given the
chance and the enabling environment. He also called on the GMB/PYO to
ensure that Nigerians in Diaspora are able to vote before the next
election in 2019.
There then follows a very robust, educative and penetrating, well-informed
interactive session of questions and answers from the mostly professional
Nigerians ranging from diaspora voting, job creation, women inclusion and
empowerment, care for the disabled, prevention of rigging, the contentious
PVC, how will the new government source money for its proposed programmes
on job creation, healthcare improvement, transportation and roads
rehabilitation, improving communication, boosting agriculture, uplifting
education, creating social welfare, and many other issues of importance
and concern to Nigerians.
Hon Aliyu was very much up to the task and responded to the highly
penetrating and interrogative questions expertly and with great knowledge
and sincerity, putting his reputation and that of GMB/PYO on the line, and
even giving the audience his personal phone numbers and email addresses.
And the answers left many in the audience satisfied and assured that
Nigeria is on the way to greatness, if and when GMB/PYO assumes the
peoples’ mandate, come 29 May 2015.
Later in the evening, Chief Kalejaiye, on behalf of all the groups
presented some token sum of money, contributed by ordinary Nigerians in
the UK to Hon Aliyu as a contribution to the campaign of GMB/PYO, as well
as presented 2 laptop computers to aid the collation of results as well as
other logistics. Chief Kalejaiye explained that apart from these 2
laptops, 5 laptops have already been delivered to the GMB/PYO campaign
efforts in Nigeria and assured that more funding, laptops and other
equipment are forthcoming before the elections.
The night ended with the launching of a “Phone A Relative for
Buhari/Osinbajo” campaign. It was very colourful as Hon Farouk Adamu Aliyu
flagged off the launch when he cut the ribbons and placed a live random
call to a voter in Nigeria, urging him to vote for Buhari/Osinbajo in the
next presidential election taking place in February 14. The receiver of
the call responded in excitement that his entire family will be voting for
Change on the Election Day but equally urged all Nigerians to do the same.
Photographs and hope filled the air with enthusiasm as Nigerians looking
hopeful that our country will be great again once Buhari and Osinbajo are
sworn in on 29th May 2015.
Akintokunbo A Adejumo Chief Wale Kalejaiye Dr Garba Sani
Publicity Secretary Convener Coordinator
Telephone: +447903018087
Email: akinadejum@aol.com
Anthony Akabogu
Diaspora Campaigns Strategist