01/01/2019
BUHARI/OSINBAJO CONTINUITY GROUP (BOCOG) NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO MEMBERS & TO THE PRESS.
2018 was a year of significant changes in Nigeria and we are all witness to the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari as it manifested in the activities of the government and the people of Nigeria. There were great transformations that have started to meet the expectations of the Nigerian citizens.
2019 will help him to continue and scale up what he has started, to give our citizens the possibility to flourish once again by removing corruptions and other human and artificial barriers that have hindered us for too long.
So much has been done in the last three years including those things which were once viewed to be impossible. No doubt about it, God is on our side and would see us through the mission in good time and in good health.
The President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo SAN will thus continue to work in the attenuated direction, doing what many pessimist thought cannot be done. Last year December, the President presented the budget. All of us can see that it is impregnated with so much fortune for the people of this country. My prayer is that all of us will be alive the year round to reap some benefits due us, in group and in individual.
As you would have noticed, this desire to pursue further reforms and foster national cohesion is clearly at the fore of this administration’s agenda. It shows the President’s desire for Nigeria to return to its traditional position of communal love and brotherly existence bestowed on us by our fore fathers, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sadauna Ahmadu Bello, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Alhaji Aminu Kano and others. Nothing can be greater than love. This is what will make us live peacefully with one another at all times.
The election that gave APC victory in 2015 was God’s doing. It heralded a new opportunities by which we can see things differently from the old way. Nigeria is our common abode that can be a place flowing with milk and honey for everyone, provided, he lives within the ambit of the law. This is the type of a country we have dreamt of for a long time. This is the type of Nigeria we can take to the committee of nations and come back with pride. If this goodwill would continue, BOCOG must do all the things within its powers to make Nigerians re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo at this year’s general election. We cannot afford to fail. The will to create the desired continuity that will, surely, take Nigeria and Nigerians to the next level must find its way in our good ways and good efforts.
One of the greatest errors committed in the past was that government was devoid of the political will to save for raining days. This is childish viewing it seriously, now. The era of President Muhammadu Buhari has changed that. It is reflecting in our GDP, it is reflecting in our Foreign Reserve, it is reflecting in our ratings locally and internationally, and, mark it, it is reflecting in our local economy, as well. As said, the will to keep up the good works resides with us at BOCOG. The continuality of the out-of-recession years is a cause worthy pursuing if nothing else is. The All Progressive Congress party has raised the flag. We at BOCOG has raised it, as well. It must not come down, ever, again.
As a group, our object must be one. Our drive must be one. Our work must be hard and honest. It must be assiduous to enable President Muhammadu Buhari to build a stable country and calm the situation against insurgents and unrest, particularly, the Boko Haram insurgency and the herders problems, which, we know, are politically driven. But, we must be undeterred. The enemies will always sow the seed of discord, the farmer will always uproot them. That is the drama. BOCOG is working with the farmer. Harvest time is nigh. I pray you to keep your hands on the plow and consider looking back as taboo.
Dr. Diran Iyantan, the Director General of BOCOG nationwide strongly reiterate the group’s pledged to mobilize over seven million votes for President Buhari in this coming election in February. This is a promise that will be kept. “BOCOG is the only Presidential Support Group in the country today with a nationwide presence in all the 119,973 polling units, 8,809 wards, 774 LGAs and 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. The task is enormous, but the labourers are willing. We see this as a good fight and we shall fight it with all our might. We have done our calculations, our mathematics is on point. If there is anything to fear, it is our attempt at not to believe. However, that type of fear never exist in us. It is a no-retreat-no-surrender” Iyantan said.
Therefore, we appeal to all members of BOCOG across the country and in diaspora to intensify their work in reaching out to the electorate on the need to vote for APC in the general election. Also, we urge BOCOG members in diaspora to make the sacrifice to come to Nigeria to cast their votes. However, those who cannot come should intensify their online campaign by stimulating people to go out to vote. And, for our nation, Nigeria, this is an important year to march to our land of promise, but not return to the land of captivity again.
While the Presidential election will be held in February, the national political scene will be full of intense debate regarding our country's economic, social, and defense policies. Regardless of your party affiliation, please share your voice in it.
While our opinions may differ, we should not forget that our future cannot differ. Living in a safe community and creating new and better opportunities for the future generations are common goals that we can easily achieve by working together to ensure the duo of President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo continued in office.
As we begin the new year, we would like to extend our best wishes for a safe and prosperous year for all of us at the Buhari/Osinbajo Continuity Group. We look forward to helping Nigerians make 2019 a wonderful and safe year.
Thank you and God bless you.
STEVE BAYODE
Director of Communications
BOCOG, Abuja.
