All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday promised to create an enabling environment that will unlock the creative abilities of youths if elected president.
Youths, he said, would be turned into job creators and not job seekers through infrastructural development that would create opportunities for them to explore all the sectors of the economy.
He said he would also invest in the electricity sector to power small and medium-scale businesses.
He spoke at a town hall meeting with youths in Abuja where Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, described the APC flag bearer as a political general who is out on a rescue mission for the country.
Tinubu said the support of the youths, the dominant population in the country, was important in building a better Nigeria.
“There is no single sub-sector of our population that is more important than you, the youth, you outnumber all of us, you are strong, you are intelligent, and your support is the key to unlocking the economic prosperity and progress of our nation. I am very proud of the Nigerian youth,” he said.
Continuing, he said:”I will bring you hope from darkness of hopelessness. God forbid, we are not going to allow them back. We are going to use our PVCs, we are going to vote our values, our expectation, we are going to vote our today and restore our tomorrow.
“My running mate and I are giving you assurance to renew your hope. I promise that you will play a vital role steering the wheels of my administration. You will have enough electricity to power your home and investment.”
Tinubu who facilitated the negotiations between the striking university lecturers and the Federal Government, resulting in the calling off of their eight-month strike, said specifically that a conducive environment would be provided for the youths to finish their education and start thriving businesses.
He said : “I will create a thriving and conducive environment for you to complete your education, start work or start a business, and earn a decent wage. With hard work and focus, you will once again be able to buy a car or a motorbike, buy a house, settle down, start a family and create a better life. I have plans to actualise all these dreams and can confirm that with your support these dreams will become a reality.”
The APC candidate said his administration would help take advantage of recent innovations in the block chain technology by reforming government policies around use of crypto assets. This, he said, can provide over one million jobs within his administration’s first two years in office.
Acknowledging that entertainment and sports have helped put Nigeria on the global map over and over again, Asiwaju Tinubu promised to build world-class entertainment venues and stadia across the country.
He added: “I promise a thriving digital economy where those interested in pursuing careers of integrity in ICT will be able to do so. We will also ensure that Nigeria can take greater advantage of relatively recent innovations such as block chain technology. We will reform government policy to encourage the prudent use of block chain technology in finance and banking, identity management, revenue collection and the use of crypto assets. We shall implement policies that will train and build capacity among Nigeria’s large and youthful population to take greater advantage of the opportunities presented in ICT.
“I promise to invest in the infrastructure required to boost an already-successful entertainment industry. Working with private sector partners we will bridge the existing gaps to build modern media centers and upgrade existing entertainment venues and stadia across the country to world-class standards.
“My administration will reform the education sector by focusing on quality, access, funding, management, effectiveness, and competitiveness. I promise, we will provide good and quality education in tune with 21st Century demands.
“Our youth are some of the most brilliant people in the world, therefore we will equip you and ensure you are globally competitive and never left behind.
“We promise to give you a fairer deal. We promise to deliver results. We promise that the hope we are renewing will never be dashed.
“You shall become the leading catalysts driving the economic resurgence. You will be empowered for individual and collective success. There will be opportunities across board, and they will be for you. Let us go together!”
Kogi State governor and National Youth Coordinator of the campaign, Yahaya Bello, said the youths would stand by Asíwájú because he had demonstrated his love for youths by lifting many of them to be leaders in Nigeria today.
He said the APC candidate is the most qualified in the race and deserves to be elected president.
Bello charged Nigerian youths not to allow those who allegedly mismanaged the country for 16 years to return to power.
He said: “We have the youth mandate to deliver our candidate from top to bottom in this general election.
“This election is not about you (Tinubu), it is about our generation and the children unborn. Your Excellency, God has blessed you. We need you (Tinubu) more than you need us. The younger generation needs you, Nigeria needs you, we all need you, don’t trouble yourself sir.
“The Nigerian youths asked me to tell you that you have won. This election, we are going to win it landslide, because we are determined to take the bull by the horn and take our future in our hands.
“We are not going to allow those that have mismanaged this country for 16 years to return again. That will never happen. This election has been won from top to bottom, from the leaders to the youths, to women, to people living with special needs.”
At the town hall meeting were Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Plateau State governor and DG of the campaign, Simon Lalong, former governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Minister of Youths and Sports Development Sunday Akin Dare, party leaders and youth leaders.
Dare described Tinubu as a talent hunter, who has identified competent youths and put them in positions of responsibility for service to the country.
Only God can stop Tinubu from winning 2023 presidential election– Abdulrazaq
Kwara State governor, AbdulRaman Abdulrazaq, is confident that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will win this year’s presidential election.
He believes only God can stop him from winning next month’s election.
Mallam Abdulrazaq spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital during a special prayer organised by North Central Agenda for Asiwaju/Shettima (NCAA) ahead of 2023 election campaigns.
Represented by his Deputy Kayode Alabi, Governor Abdulrazaq said Tinubu “is a good man. He is a great man. There is no way you can have that kind of heart that God will not bless you.”
He added:”Asiwaju Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007. How many governors in Nigeria are still relevant as Asiwaju up till now? None. Do you know why? Because he is a good man.
“I told the wife when they came for women rally in support of Asiwaju’s presidential ambition last year that her husband’s victory is a done deal. I told her that ‘God has blessed your husband.’ She was happy.
“I am saying it again now that nothing can stop Asiwaju from winning the February 25th presidential election except God. And I know for certain that God will not stop a good man. Nobody is perfect. “Everyone of us here is not perfect. Only God is perfect. Don’t talk about his imperfections.
“Once he wins the election, we will also win the March 11th governorship/state House of Assembly election. It will have a bandwagon effect.
“I urge you all to vote for Tinubu, National Assembly candidates, Governor Abdulrazaq and House of Assembly candidates so that I will be deputy governor for another four years.”
Also speaking at the event, National Chair, Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) Senator Dayo Adeyeye, said Nigeria needed the services of Asiwaju in this time of emergency.
Said he: “In times of difficulty in life are when the services and intellect of a great leader are needed. The great leader will turn situation around.
“This is actually the time we need Asiwaju. When things are rosy; when things are good; when the economy is doing fine, you may afford not to have a fantastic leader.
“But in times of difficulty, when the nation is sickly, when things are bad and when hope is lost you need a leader like Tinubu to bring the country out of debts and take the country to a higher level. This is the time we need Tinubu to steer the ship of state to a safe harbour.”
Tinubu’s winning formula will shock his opponents-Rikiji
Former Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji has said that the winning formula of Asiwaju Tinubu will shock his opponents during the February 25 polls.
The former Speaker is currently the North West Zonal Director of Artisans and Technicians Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
He fielded questions from newsmen shortly after he visited the North West zone presidential campaign office of Tinubu/Shettima, Kaduna, Thursday evening.
Rikiji was the Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly for two terms between 2011 and 2019.
He was later appointed the Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in 2019, a position he held until he declared his intention to run for the Red Chamber.
According to him, “We are targeting about 5.3 million votes in the North West for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the special grace of God. We have about 7.5 million registered artisans across associations that are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) throughout the country.
“What am I saying, and how can we achieve this?; we came up with a formula that we believe is achievable, it is an initiative of 30-30 project across the country, and what I mean by 30-30 is not for media consumption, we are already at our campaign, so we don’t want to leak our strategy.
“We want to assure Nigerians that with our 30-30 project across the nooks and crannies, across the 774 local government areas of this country, raising 5.3 million votes in the North West alone for Asiwaju is achievable.
“We want to appreciate the leaders of various trade unions and associations across the country for their symbiotic relationship since we started and also, our appreciation to various leaders.
“Last Thursday, January 5, we were in Kano for the presidential campaign. We were able to mobilise about 5 million supporters at a very short notice. And about 5000 artisans were mobilised for the Kano rally. It was great.
“The February 25 presidential election is sacrosanct. The Kano rally is a testimony of how Nigerians are desperate to see that Asiwaju takes over government after the election.
“Asiwaju is a leader, he is a nationalist, he has groomed leaders across the country, he has groomed allies across ethnic groups in Nigeria. He has impacted every part of the country.
“It is payback time for Asiwaju because aside from my boss, Gbajabiamila, Asiwaju has been my boss, by picking me, a northerner, to be the Chief of Staff to the Speaker. This is the first time in the history of democracy to witness such appointment of a northerner by a southerner. I am that lucky northerner.
“I have been with the Speaker for almost four years before I stepped down to run for my election. I have been an insider in the family of Asiwaju. I received his message from people. I am a living witness to what happens in his family circle; he is a detribalised Nigerian, kind and generous, always ready to groom people irrespective of religion and tribe.
“And as a Chief of Staff to Gbajabiamila, I am part and parcel of his family. I have told people that Asiwaju is the leader that Nigeria needs. He is a performer. Look at what he did in Lagos some years back. Look at the road maps he designed for Lagos. Today, Lagos is a country of its own. I have the belief, with the little discussion I had with him, he has the plans to develop the country better. Lagos is the starting point of micro -economy of this country.
“The artisans and technicians know that the North has been left behind for long in the economy of this country. So we are urging our people to ensure that all their votes are for Asiwaju to become the president of Nigeria. And from what we are seeing, we will actualise that by the special grace of God.
“I pray to God to give us what we have in mind; that is, the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria.”
