Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reiterated that he will never join the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite its governors commendable stance on zoning the presidency to the South.
The governor, who described the insinuations that he will defect to the APC as speculative, maintained that he remains an unrepentant member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Wike stated these at the 114th quarterly general meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, the State capital on Monday.
He informed the council ahead of Saturday ‘s presidential election, that he will be voting for only the candidate that can guarantee the unity of the country.
“I am not a member of APC and I will not be. But, they have made me to recognise that they are the heroes of this country. The governors came out to say look, for the unity of this country, presidency should go to the south. The governors of APC said the way the county is, they want the unity of this country and therefore, the presidency should go to the south.
“They could have as well said no, it doesn’t matter. As governors we have the number. We can still say it should remain where it should remain. But they didn’t do that. They said the way we are seeing this country we want everybody to be together.
“Let no one say because I have the population, therefore, you will continue to dominate. In dominating you need peace, without peace you cannot govern.”
Speaking on the crisis in PDP, the governor stated that Rivers State has helped to sustain PDP right from the era of former governor, Dr. Peter Odili down to his administration. Therefore, he insisted that it is absolutely wrong for a section of the country to deny other people the opportunity to participate in presiding over the affair of the nation.
“We are all Nigerians and we want the unity of this country. We want Nigeria to move forward as a united country. Rivers State has always been in support of one Nigeria and we’ll continue to support one Nigeria. But in doing that, we believe in equity, we believe in justice, we believe in fairness. As the governor of this State, I will vote for the unity of this country. I will vote for anything that will unite Nigeria.
“I will not support anything that will divide Nigeria. And that is what necessitated the principle of live and let’s live. If only one person continues to live, things will not be good. It’s not about party, it is about Nigeria. I am a member of Peoples Democratic Party, unrepentant member, who in fact, built this party when people ran away.”
He explained that the reason why he has been one of the arrowheads of those agitating inclusivity in PDP, is because of his belief in the unity of the country. According to him, a strategic State like Rivers, cannot be relegated to play second fiddle in the country.
Governor Wike said though he does not encourage traditional rulers involvement in politics, he however, urged them to support the PDP governorship candidate, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, who he formally presented to the council, for the continuity of the developmental stride recorded by his administration since 2015.
“In the next few months, I will be former (governor). But former in a big way. My transition will be smooth, there will be no crisis. Don’t make mistake to go and vote for another person. You want to distort everything we have done, and then our state will go backward. Let’s allow continuity.”
The governor declared that in over seven years of his administration none of the twenty-three local government areas of the State can claim they were neglected in terms of project execution.
Governor Wike assured the traditional rulers that no project awarded by his administration including the reconstruction and dualisation of the Emohua/Abalama-Tema road as well as the Ahoada/Omoku road, will be abandoned.
The Rivers State governor promised to give all State recognised traditional rulers official vehicles before he leaves office.
The chairman of the Rivers State council of traditional rulers, His majesty king, Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, Amanyanabo of Opobo, thanked the governor for the respect he has accorded the council since his assumption of office.
The king informed the governor that members of the Council, in a representative meeting, have resolved to support any governorship candidate of his choice that will carry on with the developmental blueprint of the state as laid down by him.
Ahead of the general election, the king has urged political actors and their supporters to conduct their activities peacefully so that the citizens can still have a State to cherish after the elections.
“They should also note that, nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any resident of this State. We must remember that political parties are only vehicles by which people access political offices.
“They are not permanent. Politicians can change parties anytime depending on changing circumstances. We, therefore, appeal to our politicians to eschew violence and stop using our youths as cannon fodder. Let the peace we are enjoying under this administration be sustained.”
February 20, 2023.
LATE DAME OROMA NMERUKINI LIVED FOR GOD, ADVANCED HUMANITY – WIKE
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Friday joined members of the Chief Nmerukini’s family to pay last tribute to Dame Oroma Nmerukini, who died at the age of 61 after a protracted illness.
Dame Oroma Nmerukini was wife of Chief Azubuike Nmerukini, former Chairman of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission and the funeral service held at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Mile 2 Diobu in Port Harcourt.
In his tribute, governor Wike expressed the condolences of the State government and people of Rivers State, his wife and children over the irreparable loss suffered by Chief Nmerukini and his extended family.
Governor Wike described late Dame Oroma Nmerukini as a virtuous and a blessed wife who lived for God and humanity.
“As a devout Christian, she dedicatedly served God. As a wife, she loved and cared for her husband. As a mother, she loved and ensured the children got the best care and attention.
“As a leader, she inspired the youths and contributed to the progress of her community.”
Governor Wike said the death of Dame Oroma Nmerukini was a great loss, not only for Chief Nmerukini and his children, but also to her community.
According to Governor Wike, late Dame Oroma Nmerukini served the Church faithfully, touched the life of many people with her generosity, care for others and was compassionate.
“We will all miss her. We, therefore, encourage you to be comforted by the unconditional love she shared, her contributions to community development, and her service to the Church of God and humanity.”
In his sermon, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta North, Right Reverend Wisdom Ihunwo, who preached on the topic; “God knows all” admonished the congregation to conduct their life in manners that pleased God
Bishop Ihunwo wondered why people appear like devout Christians outwardly while neck deep in sin and act wickedly forgetting that whatsoever any person sows will be what such person shall reap.
Since, there is nothing hidden away from God, Bishop Ihunwo urged the people to live godly, prepare to meet their creator with pure heart because they shall account for how they spent their time on earth.
Bishop Ihunwo also spoke of Dame Oroma Nmerukini as a woman who has a good heart, touched by the pains of others and helped always, and made peace with God before she gave up the ghost.
February 21, 2023
Press Release
Presidential Election: It’s Time to Pay Back APC, Tinubu for Misrule- Atiku/Okowa Campaign
Charges Nigerians
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization charges Nigerians to see the February 25, 2023 Presidential election as an opportunity to deal the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a devastating electoral punch for the anguish, pain, sufferings, mass killings and untold hardships they visited on Nigerians in the almost eight years of the APC calamitous administration.
The Atiku/Okowa Campaign urges Nigerians to recompense the APC with a humiliating defeat for its wickedness by voting enmasse for the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who embodies the hope for a new lease of life in our country.
Our campaign stresses that Nigerians cannot afford to gloss over the horrible experiences which they have been made to endure in almost eight years of APC, the administration which Tinubu claimed to have unilaterally foisted upon our country.
Nigerians should approach the ballot box with a determination to repay the APC and Tinubu for the devastation they caused our country by opening her to terrorists and marauders to kill and maim our compatriots, rape our women and took Nigerians into slavery in their own country; the APC took pleasure in watching the killing of innocent Nigerians, including the massacre of our youths during the EndSars Protest of October 2020; the APC also turned our nation into a large killing field, brought a near fascist regime and foisted a terrible siege mentality on the people.
Nigerians must go to the presidential election with the consciousness of how the arrogant, abusive, insensitive, corrupt and incompetent APC and its Presidential Candidate viciously pillaged our national patrimony, turned our revenues generating agencies into their cash cows, wrecked our once robust economy which was hitherto rated as one of the fastest growing in the world, ruined our productive sectors, took away jobs from our youths and turned our nation into the poverty capital of the world, where over 100 million Nigerians can no longer afford their daily meals and other basic necessities of life.
Our citizens must remember how the APC plundered our national treasury, imposed policies that ruined the value of our Naira, imposed heavy taxes and unjustified increase in tariffs for essential goods and services, triggered astronomical rise in the cost of food and indispensable commodities, reduced the purchasing power of citizens, unimaginably turned industrious Nigerians to beggars and brought so much anguish that Nigerians resorted to suicide and slavery mission abroad as options.
In the almost seven and half years of the APC administration, Tinubu and his co-travellers in the APC are reported to have used his various Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) companies to fritter over N14 trillion from our revenue generating agencies, part of which have been used to acquire choice property apart from those stashed away in vaults and bullion vans for vote buying purposes.
The Atiku/Okowa Campaign urges Nigerians to bear in mind how corrupt APC leaders pillaged our petroleum sector, through very fraudulent subsidy regime and criminal increase in pump price of fuel through which trillions of naira meant for our developmental needs; healthcare, education, security, housing, employment and critical infrastructure was diverted to APC interests including cronies of the APC Presidential Candidate.
Nigerians must on February 25 remember that the APC and Tinubu are responsible for the hunger, starvation and devastation in the land.
Under the PDP, a liter of fuel which sold at N97 now sells between N400 to N500 in many parts of the country, a bag of rice which sold for N8000 now sells for N40,000 and above, a measure of beans which sold at N250, now sells for N1000, a measure of garri which sold for about N100 now sells for N450 and above, a liter of kerosine which sold for N150 now sells for above N1000 a liter, a bottle of palm oil which sold for N300 now sells for N1,200 under APC anti-people policies.
These are the legacies of Bola Tinubu which he wants to perpetuate and worsen if
elected as President.
It is therefore instructive for Nigerians to observe that the APC Presidential Candidate is at the center of all the woes that characterized the APC administration. He is the initiator and architect of the anti-people policies of the APC administration that have brought pains and hardships to Nigerians.
This informs why Tinubu has not been heard forcefully condemning the mindless killings, the harassment of Nigerians including the media as well as the massive corruption in critical agencies where his cronies are in charge.
Our campaign cautions that Nigerians must note the simple fact that Tinubu has nothing to offer and this accounts for his inability to debate or engage with Nigerians all through his rowdy campaigns.
From Tinubu’s trajectory since 1999 as Governor of Lagos State and now the leader of the vicious APC, it is clear and abundantly so that Tinubu’s approach to governance has been self-serving.
It is also important to point out that any vote for APC and its Presidential Candidate amounts to invitation to more suffering as well as an endorsement of corruption, oppression, treasury looting, land grabbing and the agenda to turn Nigeria into Tinubu’s fiefdom where compatriots stand the risk of losing their lands and resources therewithin.
Moreover, Nigerians must awaken themselves to the reality that Tinubu has not made any quality promise to secure their votes except the tragicomical banters of balablu.
Our campaign therefore calls on Nigerians, including those whose loved ones fell victim of the mindless killings, those maimed as victims of rape, kidnap and arson attacks, those whose families gave up on life and took the supreme option, those suffering all forms of social dislocations occasioned by the compromising of national security by the APC; those whose jobs and means of livelihood were taken away; families who cannot afford their daily meals as well as all Nigerians who are suffering one form of anguish or the other because of the misrule of the APC to stand up, unite and resist the APC by voting for Atiku Abubakar on February 25, 2023.
This election is a referendum on the eight years of the APC, a government that Tinubu claimed to have personally installed under which Nigerians have suffered untold hardships.
The 2023 Presidential election is a grand opportunity for all Nigerians to liberate themselves from the atrocious APC by voting enmasse for Atiku Abubakar, who is leading the charge in the mission to rescue, recover and rebuild our nation from the misrule of the APC.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
Spokesperson
Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization
February 20, 2023
Press Statement
Atiku Will Defeat You Any Day, Any Time, Atiku/Okowa Campaign Tells Tinubu
… Says Postponing Election Will Not Halt APC Candidate’s Defeat
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization counsels the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign to end its furtive scouting for the postponement of February 25 presidential election as Nigerians are ready to go to the polls on Saturday to vote in Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Our Campaign and, of course, the generality of Nigerians reject the pressure by the jittery and deflated Tinubu/Shettima Campaign for the postponement of the election.
We hold that the demand for postponement by the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign is a ploy to further create confusion and derail the electoral process having become terrified by the looming devastating defeat that awaits Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the polls.
The Atiku Campaign reminds the Tinubu Campaign of how its chief campaigner, a hate-inclined governor of a prominent North West State was said to have been humiliated at the last Council of State meeting where he reportedly went to push a failed memo for the postponement of the election for some few weeks.
Our campaign has also been reliably informed that this APC governor is demanding the postponement because the APC Candidate, Tinubu, cannot by any measure win election, given his overwhelming rejection by Nigerians.
It is pathetic that after its defeat at the Council of State meeting, the Tinubu Campaign is still perching around media platforms and seeking for the postponement of the elections.
It is imperative to note that having been stunned by the rejection at the meeting, the Tinubu Campaign had resorted to inciting violence, making wild, unfounded and reckless accusations, posting incendiary remarks, attacking prominent Nigerians, blackmailing and seeking to compromise our democracy institutions in order to heat up the polity and make it appear unconducive for elections to hold on February 25, 2023.
The Tinubu/Shettima Campaign must accept the reality that the train has already left the station and Nigerians have since made up their minds to elect Atiku Abubakar as next President.
The firm decision by Nigerians to elect Atiku on February 25 cannot be swayed by the shenanigans of the APC and Tinubu Campaign.
Our Campaign however charges Nigerians to remain at alert and united as they get ready to come out enmasse and vote for the PDP at the Saturday, February 25, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan,
Spokesperson,
Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization
February 19, 2023
Press Statement
Let’s Join Forces to Save our Nation, Atiku/Okowa Tells Democrats
The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization has called on Nigerians, all lovers of democracy and believers in our nationhood to join forces with its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and running mate, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to save our country from its current drift by coming out enmasse to elect the duo on Saturday, February 25, 2023.
The Campaign salutes Nigerians for their overwhelming support for Atiku Abubakar and the PDP as being demonstrated by the unprecedented overflowing crowd at our campaign rallies, deluge of goodwill, prayers and solidarity in all our engagements across the six Geo-Political Zones ahead of the election.
Such massive support and organic followership not only point to the confidence and trust Nigerians across board has in Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, but also show that the APC and its deflated Presidential Candidate have no foothold in any part of the country.
The candidature of Atiku Abubakar is a national project firmly built on equity, fairness, justice and which enjoys the acceptance and support of all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity and creed, in the collective resolve to rescue our nation from the woes of the harrowing misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is because Atiku Abubakar stands out as the candidate with the blueprint, most preferred programs and a readiness to lead our nation to the path of unity, national stability and economic recovery
Atiku in his Marshall Plan has showcased the readiness to unify our nation, guarantee her security, revive the economy and steer her away from the looming danger of crisis, brawling and rioting into which she has been sunk by the APC
The Atiku/Okowa Campaign urges Nigerians to rekindle their hopes in line with the Atiku Call for a Government of National Unity (GNU) under his leadership as the elected President so as to revamp our national productivity, restore our dignity and take back our pride of place in the comity of nation as one of the largest and strongest economies of the world.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
Spokesperson
Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation
APC, Tinubu Are Hypocritical, Plotting to Scuttle 2023 Elections, Atiku/Okowa Campaign Raises Alarms
…Commends Nigerians for Resisting Tinubu’s ING Scheme
The Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization alerts Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organization are manipulating the polity and creating situations for crisis with the objective of scuttling the 2023 general elections and turning our nation into a war zone, having come to the conclusion that he (Tinubu) cannot win in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.
Nigerians must know that the APC and its Presidential candidate, Tinubu, are the real enemies of our country; they are the manipulative “assailants” who parade as the comforters; the same hands that play the war drums but pose the peace makers; the very harbingers of evil who parade as the Messiahs, but busy laying traps for our democracy and pushing Nigerians to insurrection just to achieve the selfish Emilokan ambition of ruling Nigeria.
The questions begging for answers which these anti-democratic elements are evading are: what was their response when ASUU went on strike for 8 months? Where were they as insecurity continue to ravages our dear nation? Why did these APC governors shy away from the problems of unemployment, poverty and socio-economic development in this country? What were their responses to the issue of corruption in which they have played leading roles. The ignominious video of pocketing the dollars easily come to mind here.
The APC and Tinubu had in the last few weeks deliberately orchestrated a biting cash crunch in the country so as to make Nigerians to suffer, issuing treasonable statements with the notIon of pushing the citizens to insurrection while their Campaign exploits the situation to unleash thugs to attack innocent Nigerians, destroy corporate and personal property just to overheat the polity and truncate the elections.
It is stunning that the APC and Tinubu, whose Presidential Campaign is behind the scarcity of Naira notes having intercepted and warehoused the new currency for the purpose of vote buying and refusing to turn in the about N1 Trillion Naira old notes stolen from government and stashed in secret vaults, are shedding crocodile tears and pointing accusing fingers at others.
This unbridled treasury looting by some APC leaders is directly responsible for the economic misery, escalated insecurity and social instability that bedeviled our nation and brought untold anguish to Nigerians in the last seven and half years of the APC administration.
The money stashed by these APC leaders are reportedly stolen from budgeted allocation for critical sectors including security, education, healthcare, power, road infrastructure and allotments for oil subsidy in addition to over N1.8 trillion allegedly stolen by APC interests from various federal revenue generating agencies in the last five years.
Part of the stashed funds are also reported to be diverted billions of naira repatriated funds, diverted Covid 19 intervention funds, unaccounted foreign loans as well as the stolen N500 billon Social Investment Programme fund as revealed by First Lady, Aisha Buhari.
While Nigerians were suffering from the illicit theft of the humongous resources by these APC hypocrites, what was the attitude of the sudden Messiahs?
How did they respond to the closure of our universities for almost a session?
Today, APC and Tinubu are attempting to use the economic misery he and his party created to further manipulate Nigerians in an attempt to wantonly destroy our national unity and democratic order.
Our Campaign stands with and commends Nigerians for their resolve to withstand the plot by the APC and its Presidential Candidate to disrupt the 2023 general elections and foist an undemocratic situation of an Interim National Government on our nation.
The Atiku/Okowa Campaign, once again, commiserates with the families of our compatriots who lost their lives in the battle to protect and preserve our democracy from the evil designs of the APC and its Presidential Candidate.
Nigerians have rejected the APC and Tinubu ahead of the elections. They (Nigerians) have demonstrated their readiness to vote out the APC on February 25, 2023 and not even the brawling, threats, manipulations, incendiary comments as well as treasonable pushing of the people to violence can deter them from this firm decision.
Our Campaign however charges the Federal Government to track and recover all the monies hoarded by Tinubu as well as these APC leaders and channel such towards the wellbeing of Nigerians.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
Spokesperson
Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organization
ADP, YPP, PRP, APM COLLAPSE STRUCTURE FOR TINUBU IN SOUTH-WEST STATES
- As Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, youths drum support for APC candidates
- We cannot experiment with Lagos, says Governor
Ahead of Saturday’s presidential election, political parties in four states in the South-West have collapsed their structures to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the poll.
The political parties, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Action Democratic Party (ADP), who are members of the South-West Alliance of Registered Political Parties said they decided to collapse their political parties’ structures to ensure Tinubu’s victory in Saturday’s election.
The decision of the political parties to work for Tinubu’s victory was announced by the Lagos State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mobolaji Olusegun of YPP during the Lagos Youth Stakeholders Parley organised by the Office of the Lagos APC Youth Leader at Ikeja on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by Osun State IPAC Chairman, Simon Adebayo of APM; his Ogun State counterpart, Samson Okusanya of PRP and IPAC Chairman in Oyo State, Apostle Dare Ojo of ADP, who also expressed their party’s decision to collapse their structures and support Tinubu to be the next President of Nigeria.
The Lagos IPAC Chairman, while speaking on behalf of his colleagues, said the political parties resolved to support and work for Tinubu’s victory in Saturday’s presidential poll because they believed he is the best candidate.
“We have all decided to collapse our structures to work for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We are supporting Asiwaju’s mandate and we are going to work toward his victory as the next president of Nigeria,” Olusegun said.
Speaking at the event attended by thousands of youths, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the youths and other Nigerians, especially those who are of voting age to vote for the APC presidential candidate during Saturday’s election, noting that Tinubu is the best among all the presidential candidates based on his antecedents, record of achievements and laudable programmes, which have been copied by many states.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamazat said Nigeria needs a bold and courageous man like Tinubu to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said: “To rebuild this country, we need somebody who has vision, boldness, courage and is ready to fight for the interest of the people. We need credible leaders in our country. What we need is a man like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who has the courage and boldness to make decisions and stand by them. Asiwaju is taller than all the other presidential candidates because of his vision.
“We need somebody who can think outside the box to protect all of us. I believe that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima are good combinations based on their past records and what they achieved in their respective states – Lagos and Borno when they were governors.”
Sanwo-Olu while canvassing for the continuity of the ruling party in Lagos State, urged electorates to re-elect him and vote for all APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections based on records of performance and delivery of good governance and dividends of democracy to Lagos residents by APC.
“We cannot experiment with Lagos State. We need people who can shape our life at the top,” the Governor advised.
Also speaking, Lagos East APC senatorial candidate, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, and the party’s candidate for Lagos West senatorial district, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, urged the youths to come out in large numbers to vote for Tinubu and other APC National Assembly candidates on Saturday.
Abiru and Adebule also called on Lagos residents to re-elect Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat during the gubernatorial polls, and also vote for all the APC House of Assembly candidates during the March 11 elections.
Speaking earlier, Lagos APC Youth Leader, Dr. Muritala Seriki, also drum support for Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu, and other APC candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections, urging all the youths to vote for them.
He assured the youths that they will benefit a lot from Tinubu’s presidency because he has a comprehensive programme as slated in the Renewed Hope manifesto for youths on employment and empowerment.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
22 FEBRUARY 2023
PRESS RELEASE
I’LL WORK HARD TO MAKE NIGERIA BETTER, TINUBU PLEDGES AS APC WINDS UP PRESIDENTIAL RALLIES IN LAGOS
- Pres. Buhari, APC Governors attend party’s grand rally
- Streets in Lagos erupt in political carnival, as thousands accompany Tinubu’s motorcade from airport
The nationwide presidential campaign rallies of All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, peaked in Lagos State – the political base of the ruling party’s presidential standard bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The metropolis witnessed what appeared to be its largest political parade; elegantly dressed residents and party supporters trooped into streets with various shades of campaign banners, dancing and chanting APC slogans. They walked to the rally ground – Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere – to wait for the presidential candidate and members of the campaign council.
Tinubu, who flew into Lagos from Abuja, was received by a tumultuous crowd of residents, and rode in a large motorcade from the airport through the city. The crowd grew stronger as the political procession moved from Ikeja to Oshodi, Mushin and Ojuelegba.
The physical presence of President Muhammadu Buhari sent a message of reassurance to the crowd of party supporters that thronged the rally ground.
The campaign’s grand finale was attended by all APC Governors, Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, members of Lagos State Executive Council, party leaders in Lagos and other States in the Southwest.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while declaring the rally open, said the sight of a massive crowd that accompanied APC presidential candidate’s motorcade to the stadium further demonstrated Lagos remained a stronghold of the progressives, thanking Lagosians for supporting and keeping faith with the party.
Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu had not only traversed the country to canvass for the support of all Nigerians, the Governor said the candidate had shown his commitment to lead the country on a new path to peace, stability and prosperity.
He said: “From Ikeja down to this rally, we witnessed overwhelming show of support and love for Asiwaju on the streets, which is an acknowledgment of the love Lagos people have for the City Boy (Tinubu). Thank you Lagosians for believing in the progressives party and for rising to receive our leader.
“On Saturday, we have another opportunity to consolidate the support which you have shown our party. I urge you all to troop to your polling stations and massively vote for the man who has the capacity to bring the country to another level of development. With your support, I have no doubt APC will be victorious.”
Tinubu, apparently moved by the massive turnout at the rally, said he heard the message from the electorate “loud and clear”. He expressed his readiness to offer his intellectual ability to lead the country and chart a new future for the youth.
The APC presidential candidate described the level of support he received throughout the electioneering “as extremely remarkable”, pledging to deploy his physical and mental energy to work out his vision for Nigeria and renew the citizens’ hope.
He said: “I am coming to give Nigerians renewed hope, because there is hope in the country. The level of support I have received throughout the campaign is extremely remarkable. I assure you all that, as you work hard for my victory, I will work hard for Nigeria.
“I will sustain that hope by prioritising your wellbeing at all times. Those who are feeling helpless today will have their expectations revalidated. All the agenda set out in our manifesto will be pursued vigorously with all our energy.”
Explaining why the choice of his running mate, Tinubu said Sen. Kashim Shettima stood out among the list of qualified party members he had in mind. Aside possessing knowledge, attitude and capacity, Tinubu said Shettima faced Boko Haram crisis as Borno State Governor with perseverance, determination and grit to overcome the challenge, while protecting citizens of his State from the effects of terrorism.
The APC presidential candidate expressed gratitude to Buhari for allowing internal democracy within the party and freedom to choose the party’s flag bearer.
Tinubu said: “Mr. President, thank you in a million time. You set our feet on the path to the future, to work on and achieve greatness because it is desirable for Nigeria to be great.
“You said, for anyone to succeed you, he or she must work and follow the guidelines for nomination and that the primaries must be very transparent. You said our party will be a shining example like dew on the mountain.”
Buhari raised the hands of Tinubu and Shettima in demonstration of his commitment to APC victory at the election.
Director General of APC Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, hailed Lagosians for trooping out for the rally, saying: ”The crowd that welcomed us looked like we were already celebrating the victory of our party.”
Lalong said a new president was already in place, adding that the country was only waiting for the presidential election to ratify the party’s victory.
He thanked Nigerians in advance for electing Tinubu.
APC chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said the party and its standard bearer traversed the length and breadth of the country, and organised successful campaigns.
“By the feelers we got across the country, we are sure of victory. I believe by this time on Saturday, we would be celebrating. The die is cast; Tinubu will be sworn in May 29, 2023,” Adamu said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
21 FEBRUARY 2023
