President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and national leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, descended on former president Olusegun Obasanjo as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
While Buhari said unlike previous administrations, his government will continue to make Nigeria proud, Osinbajo said the APC-led government has given Nigerians hope.
Tinubu, who was more forceful in his remarks, described Obasanjo as a “busybody” and an “election rigger.”
The trio spoke yesterday in Abuja, at the end of the national convention of the ruling APC.
Buhari urged the new party leaders to carry everybody along and rebuild the party ahead of 2019 general elections.
“We are members of one party, and it is not about winners takes all. Rather, the purpose is to build a party that would put its best foot forward and serve our country to the best of its ability. You were all here through the raw weather that persisted from yesterday till today, but you bore it patiently. You persevered through the night, and deep into another day. Thank you very much.
“At the end of all proceedings, I believe we have put in place an executive that we all can be proud of, one that would lead our party from victory to victory, from progress to progress, and one that Nigerians can be proud of.
“Together, we will all build a cohesive party that will do our country a world of good. In our country, not only the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain, the labour of the current generation shall also be rewarded. APC will serve Nigeria to the best of our God given abilities, and move our country to its right position in the comity of nations.”
Osinbajo who reeled out the achievements of the APC-led administration said the administration is championing one of the biggest empowerment programme in Africa and promised to do more.
Tinubu on his part, ridiculed Obasanjo. Although he did not mention his name, the national leader of APC, described him as an “election rigger” and a dictator who applied force to oust his perceived enemies out of office.
“He used 38 members to remove leaders of the National Assembly. Buhari has not tried to remove the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Ask Audu Ogbe how he was removed as PDP chairman at gunpoint?
“Thank God we have been able to stop the 16 years of looting and broken promises of the PDP. We are ready to work with the new leaders of our party. We will work with them or fight them when necessary.”
Tinubu also recalled how several attempts were made by the last administration to stop the registration of APC. He said 12 cases were instituted against the party to stop its registration.
“Oshiomhole is a true reflection of leadership. The pigs and their fortune tellers predicted that there will be crisis today and that our party will fall apart. I almost changed my name to Thomas because I doubted if we could hold this convention.”