{"id":30125,"date":"2019-02-22T10:09:49","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T09:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalwire.com.ng\/?p=30125"},"modified":"2019-02-22T10:09:49","modified_gmt":"2019-02-22T09:09:49","slug":"in-full-buharis-message-to-nigerians-on-eve-of-rescheduled-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalwire.com.ng\/sub\/in-full-buharis-message-to-nigerians-on-eve-of-rescheduled-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"IN FULL: Buhari’s Message To Nigerians On Eve Of Rescheduled Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Nigerians, Finally, we have reached the eve of the rescheduled first round of this year\u2019s general elections.<\/p>\n

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to exercise their rights to participate actively in the rescheduled elections slated for Saturday, February 23, 2019.<\/p>\n

This formed part of his remarks in a national broadcast aired on Friday morning.<\/p>\n

He praised Nigerians for their patience despite the postponement and urged the electorate to feel free to come out and vote without fear of intimidation.<\/p>\n

He restated the commitment of security agencies towards ensuring safety during the electoral process, just as he called on Nigerians to encourage INEC in ensuring the delivery of a credible process.<\/p>\n

He also assured international election observers of a conducive environment to carry out their electoral duty.<\/p>\n

THE FULL SPEECH<\/em><\/p>\n

Dear Nigerians,<\/em><\/p>\n

Finally, we have reached the eve of the rescheduled first round of this year\u2019s general elections.<\/em><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Tomorrow, the polls open. Tomorrow, we affirm that Nigeria stands as a democracy and that no worldly hand can deter us from this wise and fitting path we have chosen for ourselves.<\/em><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0While democracy is the most beneficial way to select a nation\u2019s leaders, it is far from the easiest thing to achieve and maintain.<\/em><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It requires a combination of patience, tolerance, compassion, diligence, wisdom and hope. These traits exist in us the Nigerian people. Because of who we are, democracy has the chance to flourish in this land.<\/em><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Thus, I commend all of you for your patience and peaceful conduct so far during this electoral season and especially during this intervening week following the postponement of the February 16 elections.<\/em><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Many were worried and thought the worst might happen. You proved them wrong by showing that you are a great people with an abiding love for peace, democracy and the unity of our country.<\/em><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0According to the daily INEC public briefings given this week, the Electoral Commission says it is ready and fully prepared to conduct the election in a free, fair and transparent manner.
\n8.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I believe INEC realises the profound and weighty duty that rests upon it.<\/em><\/p>\n

9.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We must cast aside doubt and have faith that INEC will rise to the occasion. We must believe and encourage INEC to fulfill and honour this responsibility it owes to our country.<\/em><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As your President, I hereby ask all Nigerians with voting cards to participate in defining the future of our nation by exercising your democratic rights tomorrow. I urge you to go out and vote.<\/em><\/p>

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Advertisement<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

11.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I say this because elections are the cornerstone of representative governance. And voting constitutes the highest and best expression of the sovereign will of the people to choose the government that best represents them.<\/em><\/p>\n

12.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It is only upon the freely expressed will of the people that government truly dedicated to the welfare, rights and interests of the people can be founded.<\/em><\/p>\n

13.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Do not allow anyone to discourage you from the exercise of your rights as citizens and voters tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n

14.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0To vote means that you believe in Nigeria and the excellent things the future holds for this nation and its people.<\/em><\/p>\n

15.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0No matter our political leanings, we all believe in Nigeria, in the noble principles for which it stands and in the values we strive for our beloved nation to uphold.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

16.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0All who are able, must vote so that we may better perfect this democracy and continue to build the greater nation we seek.<\/em><\/p>\n

17.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Do not be afraid of rumours of violence and unrest. Our security agencies have worked diligently to ensure that adequate security measures are in place.<\/em><\/p>\n

18.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0You will be able to vote in an atmosphere of openness and peace, devoid of fear from threat or intimidation.<\/em><\/p>\n

19.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0International and domestic monitors and observers are assured of their safety and freedom of movement needed to perform their important functions.<\/em><\/p>\n

20.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As we thank domestic monitors and observers for their contributions to our democracy, we also thank the international groups for the friendship and concern they have demonstrated to our nation.<\/em><\/p>\n

21.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0We appreciate their efforts in encouraging us to further entrench and strengthen our democracy.<\/em><\/p>\n

22.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Tomorrow is an encounter with history in which you, the people, shall affirm your collective belief in our national greatness and in our future.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

23.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I ask that you embrace and hold on to the importance of the moment soon to be upon us.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

24.\u00a0 \u00a0Honour your civic duty as voters by going to the polls tomorrow to vote for the government of your choice, for the government that will lead Nigeria toward its finest destiny.<\/em><\/p>\n

25.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0As citizens there is no greater duty than this and no greater honour. Tomorrow, I know you will once again make Nigeria proud of its people.<\/em><\/p>\n

May God bless our democracy and forever bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Nigerians, Finally, we have reached the eve of the rescheduled first round of this year\u2019s general elections. President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to exercise their rights to participate actively in the rescheduled elections slated for Saturday, February 23, 2019. This formed part of his remarks in a national broadcast aired on Friday morning. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":30126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,17,4648,624],"tags":[77,2854],"coauthors":[2391],"class_list":["post-30125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-business","category-news","category-op-ed","category-politics","tag-buhari","tag-elections"],"yoast_head":"\nIN FULL: Buhari's Message To Nigerians On Eve Of Rescheduled Elections - National Wire<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dear Nigerians, Finally, we have reached the eve of the rescheduled first round of this year\u2019s general elections.President Muhammadu Buhari has urged\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalwire.com.ng\/sub\/in-full-buharis-message-to-nigerians-on-eve-of-rescheduled-elections\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"IN FULL: Buhari's Message To Nigerians On Eve Of Rescheduled Elections - 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