16112022

2023’s fight to define Nigeria’s
soul — TINUBU
•Says Nigeria won’t sink •As Buhari, Adamu, Tinubu others flag off APC campaign
in Jos•Nobody'll deny opposition party its mandate if it wins — BUHARI
By Marie-Therese
Nanlong
JOS — AFTER weeks of
preparation, the ruling
All Progressives Congress,
APC, yesterday, flagged off
its campaign in style to retain
the presidency in Jos,
the Plateau State capital.
President Muhammadu
Buhari and National Chairman
of the party, Senator
Abdullahi Adamu, led governors
elected on the platform
of the party, ministers,
National Working Committee,
NWC, members and
other party leaders to the
colourful rally held at Jos
Township Stadium.
While handing the party’s
flag to the presidential
candidate, Asiwaju Bola
Ahmed Tinubu, President
Buhari reiterated his promise
to lead the party's campaign
for the 2023 presidential
election.
In his speech that was
later interpreted in Hausa
language by his running
mate, Kashim Shettima,
Asiwaju Tinubu praised
Nigerians for believing in
the APC to lead the country
to progress after years
of backwardness under the
Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP administration, declaring
"hope is back."
He said the campaign
was starting in Plateau, a
place that properly showed
Nigeria's vast potential.
"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 will be
able to build a decent life
from the fruits of their individual
and collective endeavour.
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,"
Tinubu said.
The former Lagos State
governor commended President
Buhari for his presence
at the flag-off and the
great foundation he had
laid for Nigeria, which his
incoming administration
planned to build on.
"I am deeply honoured
for the presence of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
As campaign chairman, he
promised to lead from the
front. A man of his word,
President Buhari has done
what he said and more.
"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.
He also praised Adamu
for leading the APC and
steadying the ship of the
party since assuming office
as chairman of the campaign.
From left, Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore; Presidential Candidate of
the Action Democratic Party, Malam Yabagi Sani; Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance
Party, Prof. Peter Umeadi, and Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo,
at the 2nd Arise Presidential Town Hall Series held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja... on Sunday
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2022 — 5
POCKET CARTOON
My plans for
Nigeria
On his plans for the
country, if elected, Tinubu
said his administration
hoped to chart the course
of progress already started
by the Buhari administration.
"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, shunning
the divisive politics of
the past or to those whose
rantins 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 forged the
wiser path toward our approved
destination, an
even better Nigeria. This is
what the election is truly
about," he added.
To ensure overall energy
security and resource mobilization
for the country,
Tinubu promised to continue
the ongoing exploration
works in all frontier basins
and especially speed up the
development of the commercial
oil find in Gombe/
Bauchi states.
Buhari’s
achievements
Reeling out the successes
of the Buhari administration,
Tinubu said there
was massive development
in the agricultural, infrastructure
and power sectors
in the last seven and half
years of the APC government.
According to him, these
foundations now require
more builders to make them
massive structures, and
called on all Nigerians to
embark on the journey with
him.
"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.
He continued: "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 the tech savvy, innovative
youth will benefit
Continues on Page 35
Resurgence of kidnapping in South West
By Prudence George
Unfortunately, the
Lagos-Ibadan
expressway is now a
dangerous route for
travelers. The situation
must be quickly
addressed so as not to
restrict the free flow of
movements, and trading,
which may also lead to
the rise of commodities
in the region.
—Duru Solomon, Civil
servant
The South-West
governors should be
more proactive and
take necessary actions
to beef up stable
security before things
get out of hand. Local
security groups should
also ensure that
bandits are flushed out
of the region.
—Ezekiel Isaac,
Teacher
The kidnapping of
travelers along the
Lagos Ibadan
expressway is simply
an extension of the
insecurity situation in
the country. Everyone
must join hands to
ensure that this does
not escalate.
—Chinakwaeze
Ijeoma, Student
The governors of the
South-west states
should hold an
emergency meeting
and call the security
agencies to order. If
the situation is not
addressed, traveling
to the East will be a
big problem this
festive season.
—Onyeka Cornelius,
Trader
Security officials
should be
redeployed to strategic
points along the Ibadan-
Lagos Expressway in
other to ensure safe
movement during the
coming yuletide season.
The situation is
dangerous and should
be given proper
attention.
—Uchena Stanley,
Entrepreneur
The recent
kidnapping along
the Lagos-Ibadan
expressway shows that
people in the Southwest
region are no
longer safe and should
be more security
conscious. Travelers
should always travel
during the day.
—Eiwone Faith, Youth
Corper