By Olusegun Olanrewaju
As the cocktail of political campaigns and rallies continues on a service note ahead of February 25, 2023, presidential election, candidates of the leading political parties have been upping their game, with sundry promises to match their respective gaits.
They have taken their bargains to different states in the North-Central; Plateau and Kogi, with sweet messages to turn the tide in their favour.
*Tinubu vows industrial revolution
At a rally in Kaduna yesterday, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, made a loud campaign statement, promising the nation, among others, an industrial revolution and completion of the AKK gas pipeline.
The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline is a 614 km-long natural gas pipeline being developed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
It is billed to run from Ajaokuta to Kano in Nigeria, at an estimated cost of $2.8bn.
The pipeline project, in essence, forms phase one of the Trans-Nigeria Gas Pipeline (TNGP) project.
With the profuse hailing of his host governor, Nasir el-Rufai, as a dependable ally, Tinubu promised widespread industrialisation across the country if elected president.
A statement from the Tinubu Media Office signed by an aide, Tunde Rahman, said Tinubu made the promise at the party’s presidential rally in Kaduna yesterday, where he addressed a mammoth crowd that welcomed him to the ancient city and the former capital of the Northern region.
Addressing party supporters at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, the former Lagos State governor thanked his host state for the warm reception the people have continued to accord him since his previous visits to the state, most recently for the Arewa Joint Committee at the Arewa House and the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit.
Those present at the rally include APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu; presidential running mate, Kashim Shettima; host-governor, Nasir el-Rufai, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Also in attendance were Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), and Simon Lalong (Plateau), who is also the Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign.
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In a long homily, Tinubu said, “What anyone who visits the Centre of Learning (Kaduna) quickly learns is that you are a resilient and industrious citizenry.
“You have the skills and talent to prosper as individuals, as a state, and as a nation, with a destiny, no one can take away from you. You exemplify the best of our diverse and beloved nation.”
He also praised el-Rufai whom he described as a dependable ally, for the good job done in the helms of affairs of the state.
Tinubu said, “With his combination of intellect and determination, he has put in motion policies and programs that are truly reforming the state and invigorating its economy.
His track record speaks for him. I commend his work, and I am glad that he has lent his support to the task that stands before us.”
The presidential candidate, who told the cheering crowd he was in Kaduna to seek their support to become Nigeria’s president, also said that he has a track record of bringing alive the hopes of the citizenry with ‘people-oriented governance’.
Speaking on his administration’s plans to massively industrialise the nation, Tinubu said, “Our industrial policy will make industries hum again.
“Meanwhile, we shall give the youth the training, access, and policy support to explore new economic frontiers in the digital economy and other uses of technology to create new goods and services that benefit the entire population.”
He added, “Our infrastructural policy will promote nationwide road and rail transport, enabling small businesses to easily transport their goods across state lines, as well as engage in productive trade throughout the land. Federal roads, especially the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, will be turned into productive and safe highways for travel and commerce.”
According to Tinubu, “Bringing jobs and cheaper power for your homes and business, the AKK gas pipeline completion will be a top priority, helping to fuel the region’s economy.
“We shall bring order to the mining industry, discouraging illegal and dangerous mining, and promoting legal mining to bring better jobs, economic prosperity, and security to Kaduna.”
Tinubu said these will help in achieving his administration’s goal of achieving double-digit economic growth which will see “bringing the most talented hands on deck regardless of their gender, tribe, age or affiliation.”
The APC flagbearer harped on his plans to improve the country’s security situation, promising to wipe out terrorism and make Nigeria safe for all.
In response to the beautiful words heaped on him, el-Rufai thanked the people of the North-West zone and particularly Kaduna State for the massive turnout, saying they have shown where they stood in the 2023 race.
*Atiku: I’ll revamp the economy
In Jos, the Plateau State capital, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday promised to address the security challenge and revamp the nation’s economy if elected as president in 2023.
At the flag-off of his campaign rally in Jos, Atiku, a former vice-president, also promised to run a government that would work for every Nigerian and restores its glory.
He said, “If elected into office at the general election, I promise to restore the peace and security in the country and revamp the economy.
“I also promise to bring back the peace that Plateau had enjoyed in the past, revamp its economy and ensure we connect Plateau to its neighbouring states.”
Atiku added, “The roads in Plateau state are in a very bad state. There are no connecting roads to neighbouring states, I will ensure we fix them immediately when we get into office.”
Meanwhile, PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who also witnessed the rally, in a remark, said the PDP was on a historic mission.
He said there were no cracks in the party “and we are one on the same mission”.
Ayu called on party supporters to vote for all candidates on the platform of the PDP, promising to restore what the country had lost.
Similarly, the Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said that Plateau was a PDP state, urging them to vote for the party across all levels to return the lost glory of the state and country at large.
Also speaking, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Caleb Mutfwang, appreciated the people of the state for always voting for the party over the years.
Mutfwang called on Plateau citizens to vote for the party again to bring about the desired change they desired.
Plateau State PDP Chairman, Chris Hassan, in his speech, assured citizens that the party was one and had mapped out strategies to win the election, assuring the presidential candidate of more than two million votes.
Atiku’s entourage had Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, Senator Bukola Saraki, and Senator Philip Aduda, among others.
*Obi warms up for action
The campaign fever was also caught in the ranks of the Labour Party (LP), particularly in Kogi State.
At a rally in the Confluence State, the party said it is ready to host its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
To make his job easier, the state chapter of the LP accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to issue permits for the venue of the rally.
State chapter chairman, Suleiman Ahmed, stated that even after meeting the payment requirement, they were still denied access to a proper venue.
The party’s state chairman stated that despite the scepticism and inability to get the state government’s permit to use the Confluence Stadium, the rally will still be held as scheduled.
