President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Jos, capital of Plateau State, led the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, 13 Governors on the platform of the party, some members of the Federal Executive Council, National Working Committee members of the Party and other party stalwarts to flag off the presidential campaign rally of the party.
The flag off had in attendance Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kashim Shettima, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila.
Chieftains of the Party that attended the rally include, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Senator Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano.
Others were Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Deputy Governor (Lagos) Femi Hamzat, former governors of Bauchi – Mohammed Abubakar, Ekiti-Kayode Fayemi, Borno – Modu Ali-Sheriff and former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi.
The rally which took place at Jos Township Stadium witnessed President Buhari, who was assisted by the APC National Chairman, handed over the APC’s flag to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The presentation of the Party’s flag to Tinubu by President Buhari signifying presenting him to Nigerians as a symbol of the party in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking at the rally, Buhari restated his promise to lead the APC’s campaign for the 2023 presidential election.
In his own speech, the National Chairman of the party commended President Buhari for his achievements, adding that he would be leaving behind important legacies in democracy, good governance, infrastructural development and economic growth as witnessed in the agriculture and food security.
Speaking in turn, the Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, described Tinubu as City Boy of Lagos, who is now City Boy of the Plateau.
In his speech, Asiwaju Tinubu thanked Nigerians for believing in the APC to lead the country to progress after years of backwardness under the PDP administration, saying; “hope is back”, adding that the campaign was taking-off in Jos, Plateau State being a place that properly shows Nigeria’s vast potentials.
In his words; “From this fine vantage point, we see how far we have come. We also see how far we must go and the road that will take us there”.
While commending President Buhari for his physical presence at the flag-off and the great foundation he laid for the nation, he assured that his incoming administration would certainly build on it.
“Mr. President, you have provided exceptional service to the nation and party. Your contributions are both positive and enduring. When the history of this period is objectively written, it will smile upon you and treat you with utmost kindness”.
Speaking on his plans for the country if elected president, Tinubu said his administration hopes to chart the course of progress already stated by the Buhari administration.
In the words of Tinubu; “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 stressed.
Tinubu also promised to continue the ongoing exploration works in all frontier basins and speed up the development of the commercial oil found in Gombe and Bauchi states.
According to him; “Truly, the foundation has been set. It is now time to call more builders forward to further construct the national edifice that will be our best home. “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.
“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 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,” he assured.
