- Governor El-Rufai has expressed optimism in APC's performance in 2019
- The Kaduna governor said the party was monitoring the pulse of Nigerians and Buhari will win as things stand
- Speaking on Obasanjo's recent letter, he described the former president as a patriot who is entitled to his opinion just like every other Nigerian
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the 2019 presidency and also 24 states.
Channels reports that the Kaduna state governor said this was based on scientific evaluation and not just mere prediction.
READ ALSO: Former Speakers meet to rally support for President Buhari
He said: “I do not have any doubt in my mind that we are going to win the next elections; not only in the centre but we are going to present our 24 states, and even more.
“We are not saying this foolishly, this is scientific. We are monitoring the pulse of Nigerians, not the pulse of a section of Nigerians and I am confident that we are going to win the 2019 elections.”
The governor said the APC was focused on delivering its campaign promises and that the party understands the pulse of the people.
"We know the pulse of the nation, we know where we are losing support, we know where we are gaining support; I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to win the 2019 elections.
"There are two pulses of Nigerians – there is the pulse of the Nigerian elites which is the noise that you hear in the media, the social media and so on; then there is the pulse of the people. If you remember how many people came out to welcome President Buhari in Kano, then you will know that there are two Nigerias.
“We are moving on, we are planning to deliver on our promises and when the time comes we will be ready for the 2019 elections with whoever and whatever party that exists. There are 73 parties in Nigeria; we are going to face them and I’m confident as I said," he said.
On the recent letter by former president Olusegun Obasanjo to Buhari asking him not to recontest in 2019, El-Rufai said: “You know (former) President Obasanjo is a Nigerian, he’s a patriot and he is entitled to his opinion just like every other Nigerian."
El-Rufai said the reason for supporting the re-election of President Buhari was not for personal gain.
He said: “I believe that it is in the overall interest of our party and the stability of Nigeria; It is not because I stand to gain or lose anything.
“But it is because in everything I’ve done since I got into public service, for me the interest of Nigeria comes first.
“God has given me everything through the instrumentality of this country – I don’t need anything as a person but what I need is to see a country that is making progress, that is stable and leave a legacy for our children to build on it."
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo met Sunday, January 28 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the opening session of the 30th African Union Summit.
It was the first time both men were meeting since Obasanjo advised President Buhari not to re-contest in 2019 in a widely publicized letter.
2019 reelection bid: Should President Buhari heed Obasanjo's advice? - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng