2023: I’ll end poverty in Nigeria, if elected president –Tinubu
•Masari, Ganduje, El-rufai market him to Northern Christian group
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has promised to conquer poverty in Nigeria if elected in 2023.
Tinubu, who made the promise at the Town Hall meeting of the South-South region in Calabar, Cross River, yesterday, said he would deploy all the human and material resources God had bestowed on the country to move it out of poverty.
The former Lagos governor decried the slow pace of growth and development in the country, adding that his administration would turn around the fortune of the country.
He said education remained the greatest tool to fight poverty, noting that each state of the federation was blessed with abundant natural resources, all of which he pledged would be deployed in changing the fortunes of the country.
He, however, pointed out that in doing that, there was the need for people to remain united and stop the destruction of what God had deposited in the country to enhance its greatness.
“My quest to progressively drive Nigeria forward is the only reason I am running; no other person is running with me. Those who say they are running have no iota of honesty in them; they can’t keep to their promises, all they are interested in is to insult me and yet, they don’t have facts. I am a wrestler, but I don’t wrestle with just anybody, my only concern is to move Nigeria forward,” he said.
He promised to unite Nigerians in order to ensure steady growth and progress.
“Moving Nigeria forward is a task that must be done, and anger, division, breaking apart will not solve it; it can only be achieved by being together. Let us conquer hunger rather than allowing hunger to conquer us. So, let’s come together and make great wealth for the nation and our people,” he said.
The presidential candidate said that Cross River had the potential to be the tourism hub of Africa.
Speaking earlier, Governor Ben Ayade stressed the need for the country to go back to agriculture, if the desire to conquer hunger must be achieved.
Ayade expressed the regret that with its vast land, Nigeria had not attained its full potential, particularly in the area of agriculture.
“It is a pity that we are just using our huge cocoa to import poverty, because we don’t have the industry to add value to the produce. The same with our huge bitumen deposit, because we import bitumen used for road construction. This is why I say that Tinubu is being summoned by God to come and change Nigeria’s narrative. He did it in Lagos when he conquered the Atlantic Ocean. He also did many other great things in the state and I am optimistic that he will replicate same in Nigeria, if elected president,” Ayade said.
Meanwhile, Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari assured the Tinubu would not Islamise Nigeria if elected president.
“Leadership is about justice to the people, even to animals. Lagos is a mini Nigeria. Both Christians and Muslims, and pagans are in Lagos. At a point in time you cannot drive in Lagos with your car windows widely open because of thieves. Hardly a day passed without seeing a dead body in dump sites.
“But when Tinubu became governor for eight years he brought sanity to Lagos. It is baseless to express the fear that Tinubu will Islamise Nigeria. It is not true. Did Buhari Islamise Nigeria after seven years in office. Did Obasanjo christianise Nigeria after eight years in office. Did Jonathan make Nigeria a Christian country after six years in office?. I can tell you that if you assemble all the presidential candidates before a blind man, he will choose Tinubu.”
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State expressed the optimism that Tinubu would win the 2023 poll.
“The major problem of this country is politics with bitterness. But when young men and women gather for a common cause without bitterness there is hope for this country. We have to pick a candidate who is tested and trusted. He is Ahmed Tinubu. He was governor for eight years. He picked a successor that was liked by the people. History will repeat itself. During the military regime under General Ibrahim Babangida’s transition to civil rule, there was an election between MKO Abiola and Alhaji Bashir Tofa of SDP and NRC. Abiola’s running mate was a Muslim. It was a Muslim-Muslim ticket that won the election. Tofa that picked a Christian running mate lost the election. So Tinubu will win the election”.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, gave reasons why Northern APC governors decided to support a southern presidential candidate, saying: “In the spirit of unity, fairness and justice in the country, after President Buhari’s tenure it is fair that the presidency should go to the South. And we converged in Katsina lodge before governor Aminu Bello Masari that said that among all the presidential candidates we should go for Ahmed Tinubu because of his track records while he was governor of Lagos”.
The three governors spoke at a town hall meeting with a group of Christians from Northern Nigeria.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the Christian group, saying that her husband would not let them down if voted into power, describing him as a workaholic and a generous man “full of intelligence.”
PDP presidential rally: Atiku shuts down Katsina
•Vows to tackle insecurity, education decay
From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, brought Katsina metropolis to a standstill for several hours, yesterday, as he arrived the city for his campaign.
PDP supporters and his admirers trouped out enmass to welcome him at the Muhammadu Dikko stadium, on Mani road, venue of the rally.
The Katsina State government had earlier declined Atiku the use of the stadium for the programme, but Daily Sun learnt President Muhammadu Buhari waded into the matter and ordered Governor Aminu Masari to allow Atiku access to the venue.
The entire stretch of Kiddies Roundabout in the city centre leading to the stadium up to Mani road roundabout was filled with Atiku’s supporters. There was also a spill over from the stadium grounds and the main bowl.
“I wish to assure the people of Katsina that l will address the menace of insecurity using whatever instrument of state at my disposal, if elected President in 2023,” Atiku told the rally.
He said community policing and other proactive security measures will be considered in the effort to talc insecurity.
“Criminal elements have been attacking rural communities as well as townships in the state with impunity. This has created an atmosphere of misgivings and palpable tension which is shaping the people’s political decisions. Peasants in the entire state are disillusioned with the daily incidences of kidnapping, killings, violent attacks and animal rustling. In October 2022 alone, over 40 people were killed while more than N300 million was paid as ransom in Katsina Central and Katsina South districts. If elected, my government will create an environment that will provide employment and fulfilment to youth and women through education, mentorship, vocational training and technology and entrepreneurship initiatives.
“This will be done in collaboration with the private sector and the local communities and I wish to reiterate my commitment to source $10 billion to empower the most vulnerable in society. If elected President, I will ensure that the incoming state government declares a state of emergency on primary and secondary education in the state. The present state of education in Katsina is not acceptable to the PDP. Katsina, being an ancient fountain of knowledge deserves better and I am aware of the primary and secondary school educational system is at its lowest ebb now due to neglect.”
Atiku and his entourage had earlier visited the Emir’s palace as well as mother of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Obi: I’ll create thriving environment for students to thrive, gets Fulani group’s endorsement
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, yesterday, promised to create an environment for students to thrive if elected president.
He stated this during a meet with university students in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Obi, who has enjoyed huge support from Nigerian youths said under his reign, Nigerian students would enjoy an environment that would unluck their talents, referencing some of the biggest tech companies like Facebook and Google which were created by students.
The former Anambra governor said his government then created a thriving environment for Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, among others to thrive .
He promised loans and grants for small and medium-scale businesses formed by students if he was elected President. This, Obi said, would be top riority for his government.
On the dichotomy between polytechnic and university education, he said technology remained the future of the country and that under him polytechnics would be at the core of producing technical graduates who will drive the technological advancement of the country.
Obi also said Nigeria needs prayers and that this explains he attended church events.
He stated this during a visit to former prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria and a former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence Sunday Mbang, at his residence. He said his regular attendance of church events had nothing to with politics.
Obi stated this against the backdrop of criticisms from the opposition parties that he was frequenting religious gatherings to curry votes. He said Nigeria not only needs an agile, healthy, and visionary leader, but also prayers. He urged religious leaders to speak truth to power as the church was not left out of the country’s challenges, citing the kidnapping of priests in the North Central and North West regions.
The cleric decried Nigeria’s current situation, saying the country was battling with endemic poverty and insecurity.
Mbang said Nigeria must be steered to its glory by an agile and healthy leader who would work for the people and not members of a cabal or his political party.
He urged Obi to ensure he keeps to his promises if he is elected otherwise history will be unkind to him, saying millions of Nigerians see him as the last hope to rescue the country.
Meanwhile, the Fulani Youths in Nigeria, has unanimously endorsed Peter Obi.
Leader of the group, Ibrahim Abdullahi, explained that the country needed someone who would be fair to every region, which Obi represented.
He said support for Obi would heal the wounds caused by the civil war which led to the killing of thousands of people.
“Of course, the present president is our kinsman. But we have come to realise that we do not need our own or people you share the same faith with to become the president before your lots improve. We need somebody that is honest. We need somebody that is just and fair. When you have that he should come from Jupiter, there is no problem. So the Nigerian-Fulani are no longer after tribal, ethnic and religious sentiment. We are looking for a leader that is capable of bringing Nigeria to the Promised Land.”
“We have realised over the years that these two tribes– the Fulani and the Igbo hold 99% of the corporate existence of Nigeria. The Igbo has a control of about 80 to 90% of commerce and industry in Nigeria.