On Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari urged all political parties in Nigeria to put elections and election-related differences aside and join his administration’s fight against insecurity.
The President, speaking at an Iftar dinner in Abuja with members of the business community and political party leaders, described insecurity as the country’s “common enemy.”
According to reports, Buhari will host the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for an Iftar dinner at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday evening.
“We will take much longer to finish the successful war we are waging against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping if we do not have widespread public support for our hardworking Armed Forces.” For progress and prosperity to be entrenched, our country must be kept safe.
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“I look forward to seeing this spirit reflected in the relationship between the parties and the government, particularly as election season approaches,” Buhari said.
The President recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APCNational )’s Executive Committee (NEC) had a huge success at its meeting last week, concluding with a clear message that the party will continue to push for the creation of democratic principles at all levels.
“Today, we can proudly say that we have a political system that allows political parties of all views and persuasions, reflecting our nation’s diversity, to coexist and compete for elections at all levels of government without fear of institutional bias and pressure,” he added.
On the ease of doing business in Nigeria, Buhari told the dinner’s captains of industry and political leaders that his administration had done an outstanding job in improving the business climate, urging the private sector to support the government’s efforts to reduce poverty and create jobs for the youth.
“No administration has done as much as we have in creating a climate that is best suited for business, large and small, to thrive,” he said.
“According to the globally recognised ease of doing business index, the ease with which business is conducted in the country has never been better than it is today.” We’ll keep working to improve it.
“We’ll continue to rely on private sector support to boost economic growth and create new job opportunities for our burgeoning population.”
“Employment is critical to our country’s stability and prosperity. Working together, the government and the private sector have the potential to transform people’s lives in ways that were previously unimaginable.”
Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the APC’s National Chairman, urged political leaders to make firm commitments to ensure peaceful and successful general elections in 2023.
As leaders, Adamu said, they must take responsibility for ensuring peace and stability, as well as inspiring party members and Nigerians to follow the laws of the land when it comes to electioneering and elections.
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The Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Coordinator of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Engr. Yusuf Yabagi, who described the President as a true democrat, said the Iftar event and the President’s invitation have introduced “credibility, respect, and admiration in the polity.”
“The fact that political leaders from various political parties are seated with you today speaks volumes about your commitment to the project of growing democracy in this country,” he said.
