Nigerian opposition party presidential challenger vows to tackle economic woes if elected

Presidential candidate for Nigeria's main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has pledged to deal with economic woes bedeviling the country if he gets elected in the Feb. 14 presidential election.

APC Presidential Candidate General Muhammadu Buhari made the promise Monday at a rally in Minna, the central north Nigeria's Niger State.

He said the abundant natural resources of the country would be the pivotal ground to address such maladies and Niger state is known for its many dams that provide electricity to the country.

Buhari, together with his running mate Yemi Osinbajo, belonged to the list of 11 presidential candidates and their running mates approved by the country's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the 2015 general elections. Other contenders included incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice presidential running mate Namadi Sambo representing the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

At the rally, Buhari also said if elected, his administration would face headlong the three national challenges confronting the nation.

"It is the responsibility of the government to provide security for all its citizens. We will discourage corrupt practices as well as prudently manage available resources," Buhari said. "The youths cannot be left without jobs. So industries will be created and revamped to provide jobs and encourage productivity."

Out of the 11 presidential candidates and their running mates, only Jonathan and Buhari contested in the last election held in 2011. Endite