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Ordinary Nigerians Funding My Campaign – Buhari …How Buhari Will Defeat Boko Haram
The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has said his desire not to be hostage to anyone was the reason behind his decision to rely on the sacrifices by ordinary Nigerians to fund his campaign.
Buhari said this at a press briefing on the General Muhammadu Buhari Crowd Funding Platform, in Abuja, yesterday.
This is even as he announced that the sum of N54, 415,386.70 has so far been received as donations through direct deposit and sale of cards to the First Bank account number: 2026724405.
He expressed confidence that the financial support he was receiving from ordinary Nigerians will see him through the campaign period.
According to him, his supporters who floated the platform drew inspiration from President Barrack Obama’s campaign.
The candidate noted that when Obama first came on the scene, he did not enjoy the support of big corporations for a variety of reasons, but that he was able to surmount this challenge when he turned to ordinary American’s who shared his dream.
He said the Buhari Support Organisation currently has 82 registered support groups with over 475, 796 coordinators and total membership in the region of 8, 492,226 across the length and breadth of this country.
Buhari explained that the organisation intends to use the registration and donation cards to enlist the members of the groups as volunteer change agents and also capture the spatial distribution of its donors.
He used the occasion to debunk the well publicized N27.5 million loans he allegedly obtained to pay for his nomination forms.
Buhari said, he made attempts to get the leadership of the APC to reduce the amount payable for the forms but did not get support.
Meanwhile, running mate to All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has said Muhammadu Buhari will oversee the defeat of Boko Haram, should he win next year’s election.
Answering questions on Twitter during a specially-arranged question-and-answer session, Osinbajo said Buhari would end the corrupt management of defence funds, which is responsible for the ill-equipment of the military.
He also spoke on APC’s strategy for reducing the bite of unemployment on youths, acknowledging that 80 per cent of fresh graduates are unemployed. “The focus of APC is on jobs jobs jobs! The question we ask about every policy is: how many jobs will this produce.
Osinbajo dismissed claims that his party and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were no different in ideology. “The APC in an ideological sense is left of centre. In other words, its focus is on policies that will impact the lives of the common man,” he said. “We have social programmes such as social welfare (first in Africa), free education, mass employment, universal healthcare insurance and free meals programme in primary schools.
Executive Director, MCC Nig Ltd, Mr Nelson Jaja (left) having a handshake with Chief Nabil Saleh during the Garden City Corporate Award, in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Egberi Sampson
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
