•APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (left) receiving the party flag from President Muhammadu Buhari, during the campaign flag-off in Jos, Plateau State…yesterday. With them are: Governor Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday assured Nigerians of a brighter future, if elected in next year’s poll.
He promised to set up a government of nation builders while consolidating on the foundations laid by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former Lagos State governor described next year’s election as “a fight not to leave the country to looters”.
He added that APC will never surrender to the opposition in its bid to stop efforts to clean the rot they bequeathed to the country.
The eminent politician also promised to assemble the best team to run the country
President Muhammadu Buhari explained why Tinubu should succeed him.
He described the standard bearer as a remarkable man, a visionary, and a patriotic man.
Tinubu, the President added, is capable of articulating and implementing progressive policies required to advance good governance.
President Buhari also lauded Tinubu’s democratic credentials, foresight, ability to take bold decisions and capacity for economic management.
Speaking at the flag-off of the APC presidential campaigns in Jos, Plateau State capital, the President said “the country needs a man like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu”.
He urged the party faithful to campaign on issues and the abilities of the candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
Accompanied by governors and other party leaders, President Buhari urged Nigerians to vote for the candidate to succeed him.
He said: “The party has taken a stand and we are going to support and campaign for him to be elected president of Nigeria.”
At the Jos Township Stadium, the venue of the carnival-like campaign, former Labour leader Issa Aremu, who spoke at the event, said workers will vote for Tinubu because he was the most labour-friendly governor of his era and the first to implement the minimum wage.
Before the commencement of the campaign, President Buhari and Tinubu paid a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwon Jos, Jacob Baba, in his palace.
The former Lagos State governor described next year’s election as “a fight not to leave the country to looters”.
The APC, he said, will never surrender to the opposition in its bid to stop the efforts to clean the rot they bequeathed to the country.
Tinubu, who elaborated on his manifesto titled: “Renewed Hope 2023,” received the party flag from the president and the APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
Tinubu said: “We hereby reaffirm our commitment to progressive good governance and to the fruits that such governance can bring to this nation.
“February 2023 is more than an election. It is a fight to define the soul of the nation and to determine our collective fate. Do we adhere to the ideals of broadly shared prosperity, competence, peace, justice and compassion toward all?
“Or do we toss these ideals away, lashing ourselves to the divisive politics of the past or to those whose rantings show they cannot distinguish between fact and fantasy?
“One party wants to take us back to a past that never should have been. Another party wants to take us to a past that resides only in its candidate’s head. Neither the old road nor the fantasy road is good enough.
“Instead, we forge the wiser path toward our approved destination – an even better Nigeria. This is what the election is truly about.”
He further said: “We, the APC and the Tinubu/Shettima team, seek to make permanent a covenant of progressive good governance with the people.
“Under this hopeful pact, we will assemble the best team.
“We shall build on progress in the agricultural sector by establishing commodity boards guaranteeing minimal prices for strategic crops.
“We shall create agricultural and industrial hubs in all zones.
“You shall also see water catchment and irrigation systems to help farming while mitigating the dire effects of drought and flooding brought about by a changing climate.
“We will encourage urban employment through a national industrial plan that employs a series of measures including tax and employment credits.
“We will deepen the knowledge economy. Millions of tech-savvy, innovative youth will benefit as will our overall economy. talented youth will find a place in our government.
“We will bring greater power through natural gas and reasonable reform of the entire power sector.
“Our government will continue the infrastructural expansion so the overall economy may continue to expand in lockstep.
“Most importantly, I will give utmost priority to extinguishing terrorists and violent criminals. We shall augment our military, police and security personnel while providing them with better tactical communication and mobility. We will employ hi-tech aerial surveillance to track and attack these menaces.
“These evil forces seek to destroy our democratic way of life. I have news for them. We will defeat their destructive way of life. They shall be utterly defeated and vanquished from our soil.”
Adamu, who described President Buhari as an achiever, said the flag presented to Tinubu was a symbol of authority to lead the party into the polls.
Lawan: APC lawmakers committed to victory
Senate President Ahmad Lawan said APC lawmakers were committed to Tinubu’s victory.
He delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the APC lawmakers at the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly.
In a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, Lawan said: “Distinguished Senators and members of the House of Representatives have asked me to assure you Mr President, that we are totally committed to ensuring that our Presidential candidate and his vice are returned elected and are sworn in as President and Vice President on May 29 next year by the Grace of God.
“PDP was in power for 16 years. They had the most resources, yet they had the least infrastructural development throughout the 16 years.
“We are very optimistic that just the way you started, with excellent performance in the area of infrastructure, our next President, by the Grace of God, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu will build on it.”
APC will win, says Lalong
The Director-General of the APC Campaign Council, Simon Lalong, said the country cannot wait to see Tinubu in Aso Villa as president.
He told the APC flag bearer, whom he referred to as “Plateau Boy”, to be prepared to succeed President Buhari.
The Plateau State governor said the candidate and his running mate have the support of 22 governors and the 42 million members of the party.
Lalong said: “We have 22 governors and all the governorship candidates, the powerful National Working Committee (NWC) and the campaign council behind you. The next election is a done deal. Jagaban, please, be prepared. We are in a hurry and indeed, Nigerians are in a hurry to see you in the Villa.
“Mr President, you are going to produce another successor and that successor will spend eight years and he (Tinubu) will produce another successor.
“On behalf of the campaign council, I want to assure our presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate that we are going to have more than two-thirds Senators, more than two-thirds House of Representatives and in all the States House of Assembly, for a smooth sail administration.”
‘Why people are defecting to APC’
Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu has said President Buhari’s performance in the last seven years compelled governors of other political parties to defect to APC.
Bagudu, who is the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, said: “Because of what you have done, we have seen governors decamping from other political parties into APC.
“When you came on board, many states were owing their workers’ salaries for months but you assisted them to clear the areas of salaries,” he said.
The chairman said that the APC governors would support Sen. Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate Sen. Kashim Shettima to continue with the good works of the APC-led Federal Government.
“On behalf of the 22 APC governors, we are 100 per cent in support of the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.
“We are confident in winning a free and square election as you (Buhari) have inculcated in us.”
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who spoke on behalf of youths, said Tinubu would replicate what he did in Lagos as governor and Shettima would replicate his achievements as Borno governor.
He said: “As the youth of this country, we are going to mobilise ourselves from state to state, community to community and house to house for Tinubu.
“This coming 2023 election is about the younger generation. It is not about Tinubu or Shettima but about the generations yet on born.
“We’re going campaign across the country and we are going to win.
“Let me congratulate Tinubu/Shettima ahead, come 2023 we are going to escort you to the villa,” he said.
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River said Southsouth states will massively vote for the APC, considering what the party has done for the country.
Plateau APC governorship candidate, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, thanked the party for choosing Plateau to flag off its campaign.
Yilwatda said APC would not regret the decision, assuring the members that Plateau would not disappoint in any form.
APC rally path to victory, says FCT minister
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, described the mega rally in Jos as a pathway to victory.
The minister, who spoke with reporters shortly after the rally, also affirmed that the political volcanic eruption in Jos was an indication of a united political party coasting to victory.
Aliyu, who expressed confidence in the ability of the candidate, maintained that there lies a better country and indeed a renewed hope for Nigerians.
According to a statement by her Special Assistant, Media, Austine Elemue, the minister said: “The official flag off means the commencement and license of every other member of the political party in the country to, in earnest, kick start activities and to galvanize support for the party.
“It is also an opportunity to reassure the citizens of Nigeria that we have their interest at heart and not just the government in power. So, this flag off today is symbolic, a lot has happened before now and a lot will continue to happen.
“God willing, without sounding arrogant, the party is going to emerge victorious.
Nollywood, Kanywood stars storm Jos
Nollywood and Kanywood stars were in Jos to support Tinubu and Shettima.
Some of those spotted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) include Jide Kosoko, Gentle Jack, Sani Mu’azu Foluke Daramola and Ali Nuhu.
Others were Zack Orji, Said Balogun, Taiwo Hassan, Bimbo Akintola and a host of other actors
Jide Kosoko said that they were in Jos to show their solidarity and support to Tinubu whom he said had the capacity to tackle the country’s challenges.
Koso stated that Tinubu proved his mettle in all the positions he held.
Ali Nuhu, who spoke on behalf of Kanywood, solicited the support of Nigerians for Tinubu and Shettima.
Nuhu urged those who have not collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to do so to enable them to vote.
The actor said they would do whatever was needed to mobilise their members and fans for Tinubu/Shettima.
“I am here with some of my colleagues and we are here to pledge our support for Tinubu,” he assured the audience.
The actors danced to different songs to highlight their support for the APC candidates.
Some musicians, including Terry G, Zulezu and many others, performed at the event.
At the campaign were Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers), Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat, former Bauchi Governor Mohammed Abubakar, former Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi, former Borno Governor Modu Ali-Sheriff, former Ogun Governor Ibikunle Amosun, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Sen. Tanko Al’makura, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Hajiya Nana Shettima and Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu.
Also, Governors Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; APC-PCC Secretary James Faleke; Chairman, Nigerians Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM); Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; APC chieftain Mutiu Are and Lagos Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso were at the campaign.
(THENATION)
