Surprise awaits those planning to rig 2027 election’, Daura warns

• As APM inaugurates presidential campaign council

• Says resetting, only way out of nation’s problems

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Vice Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, APM, Alhaji Lawal Isa Daura has declared that resetting Nigeria is the only way that can get the country out of its current predicaments.

This is as Daura, a former Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, has sternly warned those who may be planning to rig the 2027 general election to be prepared for a ‘big surprise’.

The running mate to the APM presidential candidate and Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Makinde/Daura National Campaign Management Committee (NCMC), which has former Minister of Aviation, Felix Hassan Hyat as Director General.

“And for those who really want to rig and think that they can pull a fast one, well, they have a surprise coming”, the former security chief declared.

Speaking at the well attended inauguration, Daura said, “As an individual or a public servant, I always ask and our presidential candidate of the APM always say that we are here to rescue Nigeria.

“Therefore, resetting is the only solution so far that can get Nigeria out of the wood. And by resetting, it means every other thing that has been configured in Nigeria needs to be looked at, amended, changed, replaced, or whatever.

“Therefore, this is no small job. And we have to take it with the seriousness that it deserves.

“It is for this reason that, with just barely 100 days remaining for the elections, we just have to get the right people with quality, with focus, with determination, with resolution, with scope.

“This group of people (members of the inaugurated committee) have been tested over and over, and they have come out with very, very, very strong results. And that is why we carefully went for the best, I will say. “And if anybody is here to contest that, I can now see the calibre of people that they are bringing. It will fall there and tell them that they are not really serious, because we are serious, and we are not abiding.

“And we want boldness. We want focus. We want people with resolve to succeed, people that have never allowed failure to be part of their government. And therefore, I can assure you that we have a winning team”, he declared.

The National Chairman of APM, Dr Mamman Dantalle tasked the committee members to be prepared to face various challenges that will confront them.

His words, “We are bound to encounter challenges. We are bound to disagree with one another. But our ability to manage our internal problems is what Nigeria wants to see.

“That these people, if they can manage their internal affairs, they will be able to manage the country better. We are coming from different social backgrounds. From different religious backgrounds. From different political backgrounds. “Some of us, the only election that we have experienced is local government election. This is our first time of coming here.

“Some of us have experienced only state elections. And some of us have experienced national elections. So our experiences will never be the same here. But our ability to accommodate these differences makes us stronger.

“I appeal to all of us and for those who have been inaugurated today. Yes, while I congratulate you for this achievement, it is in itself not a success until that is able to transform into victory for all of us”, he said.

The DG of the Campaign Council, Mr Felix Hassan Hayat assured that the assignment will be taken with all the seriousness it deserves.

His words, “We do not take this opportunity and this honor for granted. May I assure you, that the people I see, and I have worked with nearly all of them, there are people that will not tolerate nonsense, even from me, as their leader.

“Therefore, when I saw the best, I started dreaming of nothing but success. And we started discussing with each other how to achieve the task. Yes, it’s a task. But tasks are meant for people who can confront tasks and conquer tasks. And we’re prepared.

“Because we don’t have any country apart from Nigeria. And in Nigeria, we don’t come first, it means we are doomed. May God forbid.

“We are aware of the pedigree of our presidential candidate. Everybody knows how Oyo state is today. Therefore, people like me didn’t blink in saying yes to work for Nigeria through him.

“Just like we are crying today of insecurity. It is not only Nigerians that know that you are a guru in security matters. The whole world knows who you are as far as security is concerned. Therefore, this is a combination of people who are tested.

“People who have seen yesterday. People who are ready to sacrifice their lives still in order to make their children, their grandchildren, and their many unborn future Nigerians to feel comfortable and to feel proud of Nigeria again.

“It’s not a speech-making game, but let me point out one thing. We are in a journey together to a common destiny as Nigerians. And in this journey, I am very sure, we don’t have the same stake, but we have the same will to reach that destination.

“We all know, Nigerians are saying, let the South complete its 8 years tenure. And if the South is going to complete its 8 years tenure, we know that the North now have the responsibility, even if not constitutionally, but morally, to support it and to make sure it goes that way due to the interest of Nigeria as one indivisible country”, Hyat declared.