President Muhammadu Buhari says it is pertinent for the All Progressives Congress to remain in power beyond 2023 as the country’s future will be safer under the ruling party’s control.

Mr Buhari made the assertion at the unveiling of the campaign manifesto for Bola Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate for next year’s election.

“‘This election is even more important than the election of 2015 that brought us into power,” Mr Buhari said. “The future of this country is safer in our hands.”

Mr Buhari added, “The cost of losing the gains our country has made is much more than the need to stop the haemorrhage that led to our coming together nearly nine years ago.”

The president vowed to lead Mr Tinubu’s campaign, charging “every member to put in all their efforts during the next four and half months of campaign to ensure we record a resounding victory in all our elections nationwide.” 

In the campaign manifesto, Mr Tinubu vowed to build on foundations laid by the Buhari-led regime.

Mr Buhari, in his Independence Day speech on  October 1, admitted that unemployment and poverty have remained high under his watch in spite of efforts. The Nigerian economy continues to struggle with the debt profile hitting over N42 trillion as the regime engages in a borrowing spree. 

In the past seven years under Mr Buhari regime, insecurity has heightened, with terrorists and bandits spreading their tentacles across the nation wreaking havoc.