The presidential campaigns of the All Progressives Congress (APC) officially kicked off in Abuja yesterday with a vow by President Muhammadu Buhari to lead it personally.

President Buhari made the vow as he inaugurated the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of APC and unveiled the action plan of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President based his decision to lead the campaign on the fact that it is even more important to the party than the one of 2015 because the gains made by the country in the last seven years must be preserved.

On his part, the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, seized the occasion to express his readiness together with his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, to guide Nigeria to full security, prosperity and greatness, adding that the country does not need fancy promises and foreign experiments at this time.

President Buhari, who spoke before performing the ceremonies, charged every member of the party to work for the success of the campaigns, saying that it would be disastrous for the party to lose and allow a reversal of the gains made over the years.

He said: “It is on this note that I want to rally all our party members behind our candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, in our determination to continue to lead this country so that we can consolidate on our achievements and do more.

“It would be disastrous to allow a situation that will lead to the reversal of the progress our country has made.

“Let me add that I joyfully accept the position of the chairman of the campaign council we are unveiling today.

“Our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is too well known for his capacity and can-do spirit.

“He stands tall in his track records as a democrat, a champion of the rule of law, a man at home in every part of our country, and a truly visionary leader.

“I, therefore, want to assure all party members and supporters of our government that I will be at the forefront of this campaign.

“This election is even more important than the election of 2015 that brought us into power.

“The costs of losing the gains our country has made are much more than the need to stop the haemorrhage that led to our coming together nearly nine years ago.

“I want to charge every member to put in all their efforts during the next four and a half months of the campaign to ensure we record a resounding victory in all our elections nationwide.

“The future of this country is safer in our hands.”

Acknowledging the challenges and modest success recorded by his administration, the President noted that despite the unfavourable circumstances of global economic downturns, the COVID-19 pandemic and very low international oil prices resulting in low revenue, the APC-led government has managed to make Nigeria stable, laying a solid foundation for progressive growth.

He noted that in the seven years journey as a government, the party has every reason to be proud of its achievements amid the inherited systemic corruption and local challenges of insecurity.

Highlighting the achievements of the APC-led administration, the President noted that under his watch, Nigeria’s security personnel are better equipped and motivated.

He added that the exploits of the Nigerian Armed Forces on the battlefield have led to massive and successive operational successes in the quest to secure the country and provide adequate protection for the lives and property of all citizens.

Buhari said: ”The efforts of our men and women in the armed forces over the last years are beginning to yield positive outcomes. We are gradually taking back our country from foreign-inspired bandits, kidnappers and terrorists in the northeast and northwest and other parts of our country.

”We are equally combating separatists, oil thieves and bandits in the southeast and south-south of the country

”Our administration remains committed to progressively eliminating all flashpoints of insecurity nationwide. We would triumph over the enemies of our country in whatever forms and shapes they appear.”

President Buhari also scored his administration high on infrastructure, saying ”our commitment to stimulate our nation’s economy through massive infrastructural development has not been misplaced.”

”We are already seeing the unprecedented infrastructure across the country. The real impacts of our efforts will be felt more as the various projects are completed and put to use in the coming days.”

The President, who described the APC presidential candidate as ”the Jagaban, my friend, partner, and brother,” said the occasion was important to him for two reasons.

”First, it is significant to note that this unveiling is the third by our party. I have had the opportunity of unveiling two Action Plans.

“I had the privilege of presenting our party’s manifesto of Change in 2014. It was a manifesto that signposted our collective desire to arrest the directionless journey our country was headed under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“The second time was in 2018 when I unveiled the Next Level agenda of our government.

”The second reason this occasion is significant is that we are having our first transition within our party where I am in the last year of my two-term mandate, and we have a new candidate to lead our party into another presidential election.

”The events preceding our presidential primaries and the conduct of the primaries were important milestones in the development of our internal democracy and party politics.

”I must congratulate the leadership of our party, other stakeholders and the entire party members for the success of the exercise.

“We can say with confidence that our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is charting a steady course in our journey towards enthroning lasting democratic culture in our body polity.”

The President also thanked party officials in the National Executive Council, the zonal, state, senatorial, local government and ward executives for their unalloyed support of his administration, and the great efforts and outstanding commitment to the cause of the party and democracy.

He urged them to be mindful of the importance of building a strong and purposeful political party, recounting that the project of pulling ”Nigeria back from the precipice in 2015 was made possible by putting together a formidable party peopled by many who have made a vow to work for a Nigeria we all can be proud of.”

President Buahri charged party members to uphold the supremacy of the party, operating within the guidelines as stipulated in their Constitution

”It is worth reiterating the fact that we are stronger today only because we continue to support the party.

”For us to develop an enduring democracy in our country, we must first subscribe to the supremacy of our political party.

”We must subject ourselves to the rules and learn to operate within the guidelines as stipulated in our party’s constitution.”

The President reiterated his congratulations to Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, for the victory at the primaries, commending the maturity and sportsmanship of other contestants.

He expressed delight that most of the aspirants transferred their structures, including campaign offices to the party’s candidate after the primaries, adding that this is a demonstration of the commitment of the party leaders and members to the cause of the party and democratic practices.

He challenged party members to see themselves as ”ambassadors of progressive principles and exemplify the best of us in their actions and words.”