2023 Election Is Fight To Define Soul of Nigeria, Says Tinubu

…As APC Flags Off Presidential Campaign In Jos

Akin Olayemi

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has described the 2023 presidential election as a fight for the soul of the nation.

Tinubu stated this on Tuesday at the flag off of the party’s presidential campaign held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, jos, Plateau State.

He said if elected president, unlike other candidates who are either dwelling on a fruitless past or a tomorrow of fantasies, his administration would chart the course of progress already started by the Buhari administration.

His words: “February 2023 is more than an election. It is a fight to define the soul of the nation and to determine our collective fates. 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 towards our approved destination — an even better Nigeria. This is what the election is truly about,” he added.

The presidential candidate commended the Buhari administration for the massive development in the agricultural, infrastructure and power sectors in the last eight years.

Tinubu noted that these foundations now require more builders to make it a massive structure.

He called on all Nigerians to embark on the journey with him.

Tinubu took time to praise President Muhammadu Buhari for his presence at the flagoff and the great foundation he has laid for the nation, which his incoming administration plans to build on.

“I am deeply honoured for the presence of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari. As the campaign chairman, he promised to lead from the front. A man of his word, President Buhari has done what he said and more.

“Here, I thank president Buhari again because he has truly established a strong foundation for the things we are now to do. 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,” he said.

“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,” he added.

In his speech, the vice presidential candidate of the party, Sen kassim Shettima commended Nigerians for believing in the APC to lead the country to progress after years of backwardness under the PDP administration by declaring that “hope is back.”

He also praised Adamu for leading the APC and steadying the ship of the party since assuming office as national chairman.

He said the campaign was starting in Plateau, a place that properly shows Nigeria’s vast potential.

Shettima said: “One can see greater prosperity and jobs in an economy humming with activity. From the farmer in the rural area to the city boy in a bustling urban centre, each will have productive work to do and a decent home to return to.

“One can see a Nigeria where all who want to will be able to build a decent life from the fruits of their individual and collective endeavour.

While addressing the rally, both the National Chairman of the party and the Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum who is also the governor of Kebbi, Bagudu, commended President Buhari for his achievements, saying he would be leaving behind important legacies in democracy, good governance, infrastructure development and economic growth particularly in the area of agriculture and food security.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of APC , Senator Abdullahi Adamu, led governors of the party, Ministers, National Working Committee (NWC) members and other party leaders to Jos, Plateau State to flag off the campaign.

The flag off also had in attendance Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, 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 River), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa).

Others are Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, former Bauchi governor Mohammed Abubakar, former Ekiti governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Borno, Modu Ali-Sheriff, and former Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Wife of APC Presidential Candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the Vice Presidential Candidate Shettima, Hajiya Nana Shettima, Wife of Governor Sanwo-olu of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-olu, ministers, members of APC National Working Committee and team Itire-Ikate LCDA ably led by the Executive Chairman of the Council, Hon (Dr) Ahmed Olanrewaju Apatira.

Views: 0