The All Progressives Congress,APC Presidential Candidate,General Muhammadu Buhari has declared that his novel approach to fund-raising through a request for at least N100 donation from each of his supporters has been yielding results.
“So far so good, we have received donations of N54,415,386.70 (fifty four million, four hundred and fifteen thousand, three hundred and eighth six naira, seventh kobo only) through direct deposit and sales of card to the First Bank account 202624405”,Buhari said Tuesday.
He said further,”Let me reiterate that the only authorized account designated for the crowd funding which I am the sole signatory to is the BSO account with First Bank.
“I know we live in a different times in Nigeria, there is insecurity, corruption, poverty and above all, the uncertainty of life and if has become unbearable. I want to appeal to all our supporters to continue making sacrifice till we get the needed change. If is a real demonstration that when people come together and put their minds to it, change is possible
While addressing newsmen in Abuja, General Buhari said has chosen to ask the masses for donations so that he can be independent of moneybags
“My strength mainly are the ordinary people. N100 is plenty of money for them and I know that they are going to make the sacrifice required for the change we are looking for, especially when I made them a promise to be transparent and personally be responsible for the money.
“I depend on them and we are taking this idea mainly from what happened in the United States of America. When Obama came out to contest, he is a colored person and the big companies are not for him, but he knew that he has ground foot soldiers.
“When he came with this idea, he was able to finance his campaign without looking for money bags or anybody influential and so, he remained independent and was hostage to nobody. This is what I want to achieve”,
He reiterated the fact that he will be the sole signatory to the account.”I have to go out of my way to tell those who organised this that I will be the only signatory to this account. This will give a lot of confidence to the masses who are our supporters because to them, N100 is very dear to them and they would not want anybody to misuse it.
He also explained the circumstances under which he raised money for his nomination form”I said that I put a very quick call to my Manager, that whatever the state of my account, he should honor the cheque and that was what he did. People developed their own story from there. Whatever happened is between me and my Manager and it is always confidential and my cheque did not bounce”.
According to Buhari,”I seize this opportunity to welcome everyone present here today. I want to also thank all those who have contributed to our campaign through the crowd funding project which I personally launched precisely on the 19th day of November 2014 at the Aso Hall, international Conference Centre, Abuja. As I promised during the takeoff that I will take responsibility of the account, we are here today to give you an update in the progress made so far.
“Currently, 82 support groups have been registered under the Buhari Support Organisation BSO with over 475,796 coordinators and total membership in region of 8,492,226 across the length and breadth of this country.
“We intend to use the registration and donation cards to enlist the members of the groups as volunteers change agents and also capture the spatial distribution of our donors.
“I wish thank everyone here and outside this venue who has accepted to join us in securing Nigeria and efficiently manage our country. Through you donations and support, we shall continue to foster the bond of friendship and goodwill of our country.
“Thank you for supporting, encouraging and praying for the ticket of Muhammadu Buhari/Yemi Osibanjo. You contribution so far has humbled and inspired us”,Buhari said.
