Buhari's integrity will earn him second term in 2019, says Eyube

Hon. Kennedy Raymond Eyube, is a prominent leader and chieftain of All Progressives Congress APC in Okpe local government area of Delta State.

Eyube who also a businessman and philanthropist in this interview with Journalists spoke on President Muhammadu Buhari's re-election bid and governorship elections in Delta state in 2019.

Excerpt:

THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION INEC HAS RELEASED THE TIMETABLE FOR THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS, ARE YOU OKAY WITH IT?

Yes of course, I am very okay with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC. The Commission released the timetable at the right time; it is an indication that the present INEC is undergoing a laudable transformation under the leadership of the amiable Chairman, Alhaji Mahmood Yakubu. The commission has done what is right and I think Nigerians are commending INEC. It further shows that we are gradually getting our electioneering processes right. The released time table will enable INEC to prepare adequately for the general elections in February and March 2019 respectively. The major beneficiaries of the timetable would be the politicians, particularly the prospective aspirants or contestants who now have enough time to draw their plans and make proper provisions for the various positions or offices they are vying for in 2019. As a Nigerian, I have absolute confidence in the present INEC, led by Alhaji Mahmood Yakubu.

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI HAS NOT INDICATED INTEREST TO RUN FOR SECOND TERM, DOES THE PRESIDENT DESERVES ANOTHER TERM IN 2019?

With all sense of sincerity, the President, Muhammadu Buhari will do a second term and remember the constitution of Nigeria allows President Buhari to run for second term. That is to say, Buhari has a constitutional mandate to rule for eight years. Even though President Buhari has not officially announced his intention to run again in 2019, but I can confidently tell you that whenever he does or decide to run for second term, majority of Nigerians, about 80% percent of Nigerians would be very happy to vote for Buhari and APC come February 2019.

RECENTLY SEVEN APC GOVERNORS PUBLICLY ENDORSED BUHARI FOR 2019, DO YOU SUPPORT THE GOVERNORS? 

Yes, the endorsement of President Buhari for second term by the seven APC Governors is timely and in order. To be honest with you, I want Buhari to run for second term, and it will shock you to know that in my own personal capacity I am already mobilizing for his re-election in my federal constituency which include Okpe, Uvwie and Sapele local governments in Delta State. President Buhari will contest and win because he has done very well. More so, let me commend the APC Governors for endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari for a second, the Governors have done the right thing and they are very ready to work and ensure the President is re-elected in 2019.

BUT SOME NIGERIANS DOES NOT WANT BUHARI TO GET SECOND TERM CITING HIS INABILITY TO TACKLE UNEMPLOYMENT, INSECURITY AND HERDSMEN KILLINGS IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY

You should know that apart from the seven APC Governors, majority of Nigerians have already endorsed Buhari for second term and by May 29 this year Buhari will be 3 years in office. It is quiteunfortunate that what most people criticizing Buhari have failed to understand is the fact that Buhari's eight years in office would not be enough to solve the entire problems of the country and all Nigerians. You cannot build a house over nothing, there must be a solid foundation on which a good house will be built, Nigeria as a nation and its millions of citizens are suffering today because of bad foundation laid for this country in the past. Imagine, how President Buhari'sadministration is working tirelessly to boost power generation and distribution in the country, with the recently approved and awarded $5.792 billion dollars (about N1.140trillion) for the construction of the 3,050 megawatts Mambilla Hydro-Power project at Gembu in Taraba.

This should have been done in past, but was not done for a major oil and gas producing country like Nigeria that has a population of over 180 million people. What does this mean to you, some of the things Buhari is tackling now or trying to achieve such as railway to connect the six geopolitical zones, reviving of our sea ports, diversification of our economy to guarantee for food security and exportation for alternative revenue, approval of modular refineries to ensure availability of petroleum products, all these should have been done or achieved in the past 56 years from when we got Independence. I do not understand why someNigerians think Buhari wouldperform magic to transform Nigeria overnight, the Buhari's administration is focused, determined and making great impact on the lives of Nigerians.

If you do a careful assessment on Buhari's administration, you will discover that Buhari is working and recording remarkable achievements. You see Nigeria is like a 6 year old boy who deliberately refused to go through Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education but suddenly want to do so at the age of 96 years, that is exactly what we are suffering today. If we had done what should be done in the past, Nigeria will not be where we are today, but thanks to God who graciously brought Buhari in 2015 to right the wrongs of this country. Buhari's policies are long term; he is laying solid foundation for future Nigerians and that is how you classify a government or leader that has a vision for the future of Nigeria. The Buhari's anti-corruption fight is yielding results. Buhari has brought discipline, accountability and transparency to governance in Nigeria. Buhari has ensured that no more free money and public funds to loot, corruption has reduced drastically, with all these in place the economy will flourish, there will be jobs for the unemployed, there will peace across the country. On the alleged Herdsmen killings in the North, we should all know that a man killing a fellow man is sin before God. The senseless killings must stop, people should always sit down and discuss issue, killings of innocent souls will not provide solutions.  And anyone blaming President Buhari for the herdsmen and farmers clash is mischievous.

THE NORTH AND SOUTH WEST ZONES NO DOUBT ARE STRONGHOLDS OF APC, BUT DO YOU SEE APC WINNING IN SOUTH SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST IN 2019? 

It’s a known fact that APC and President Buhari will win as usual both in the North, and South west zones, but this time a big win in the South and South East zones. The likes of Rotimi Ameachi, Timipre Sylva, Adams Oshiomohle, Umana Umana, Orji Uzor Kalu, Chris Ngige, Rochas Okorocha, Ogbonaya Onu, Ortega Emerhor, Ibe Kachikwu just to mention a few, these are APC gladiators that would deliver significant votes, I mean 80% votes from South-South and South East zones for APC and Buhari in 2019, and when you add that to the results from North and South west zones, you already know the outcome of the February 2019 presidential election, that is Buhari till 2023.

Buhari's integrity will earn him second term in 2019. His integrity is a major factor working for him and APC. Evidently, under Buhari the world now respects Nigeria. 

YOU ARE FROM DELTA STATE, PRESENTLY UNDER GOVERNOR IFEANYI OKOWA, ARE YOU SURE APC CAN DEFEAT OKOWA IN 2019?

That was the same question someone asked me in before the 2015 presidential election if I believed that President Buhari can defeat Goodluck Jonathan, and I said it is the will of God that Buhari should defeat Jonathan and you saw how it eventually played out. So, my answer to your question is that whoever emerges APC governorship candidate in Delta for 2019 election will defeat Okowa. How it will happen I know exactly, but I cannot disclose it now, moreover, I want to commend the leader of APC in Delta State, Olorogun Ortega Emerhor, who is doing everything possible repositioning the party for victory in 2019. Finally, now that INEC has released timetable for the 2019 general elections, the Delta APC should start adequate preparations to take over Delta state from PDP and Okowa.

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