Nigeria needs Gen. Muhammadu at this time more than before, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mallam Nasir El Rufai, said on Tuesday in London.

El Rufai, who is contesting for governor in Kaduna State on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to take advantage of the election to move Nigeria in the right direction.

El-rufai who fielded questions on the engagement of the Diaspora in nation building urged the people to encourage their families and associates in Nigeria to vote APC into power.

The former FCT Minister who also dispelled rumors of Buhari’s ill health said the APC presidential flag bearer had the requisite experience, given his age at 72, to serve Nigeria.

“When nations go through trauma they normally go for older leaders who are more tolerant, focused and prepare to create a younger generation of leaders”, he said.

“That was the case in South Africa and China. For Nigeria, Buhari will bring about stability and peace we yearn for,” El Rufai said.

APC National Chairman Chief John Oyegun told the supporters that the party’s strength was in its desire to change Nigeria.

Appealing for the diaspora support, he urged the international community to assist Nigeria sustain democracy.

“We are calling on our foreign friends not to help APC but to ensure that the right thing is done in Nigeria,” Oyegun said.

Gen Buhari will deliver today at the Royal Institute of Public Affairs, Chatham House in London.

On Tuesday, a presidential rally was organized by APC in the Diaspora community, UK.

The supporters converged on the Everlasting Arms Ministries Church in East London. APC spokesman Mohammed said the rally was not part of Gen Buhari’s itinerary in London

He said since the APC candidate arrived in the UK, he had been meeting and consulting with political leaders while also having some rest after his energy-sapping nationwide campaign.

Speaking on the party’s manifesto, Mohammed said the APC would tackle corruption, generate employment and introduce a nine year free compulsory education to eradicate illiteracy.

“APC is committed to fighting corruption in the country by ensuring discipline, honesty, hard work and merit. The Adamawa State Police Command on Wednesday confirmed the abduction of the Vice Chairman of Hong Local Government, Bijida Yakubu, by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, said three vigilante members that were with Mr. Yakubu lost their lives in the encounter.

Mr. Abubakar, who did not give details, however, said the police officers investigating the incident have so far recovered the vice chairman’s shoes.

A resident of Hong who simply identified himself as Hussaini said that the incident occurred in Gayafa Village of the area.

“You know, insurgents attacked the village last week. The vice chairman who hailed from the village was on an assessment visit with some hunters when the insurgents attacked and over-powered them.

“About seven insurgents were killed in the encounter before they over-powered the hunters and took away the vice chairman,” he said.

Mr. Hussaini claimed that the abducted vice chairman was later allowed by his captors to call his wife with his cell phone before the device was switched off.

The Chairman of Adamawa branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Sahabo Gurin, also confirmed the incident.

Adamawa is one of the three states most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The insurgency has caused the death of about 20,000 people in northern Nigeria with hundreds of thousands of others displaced.

The Nigerian military recently began a major offensive against the group, reclaiming some of the territory initially seized by the insurgents.

(NAN)