By Olusegun Olanrewaju and Ben Ogbemudia
The political gladiators in the ranks of the three leading political parties in the country, ahead of the 2023 general elections yesterday took their campaign battle to Kaduna, the capital of former Nigeria’s northern region.

Kaduna, which occupies a very strategic platform in the nation’s political history, played host to the presidential candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as well as his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

Others slated for the interactive are the presidential candidates of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Kola Abiola, and Adewale Adeboye of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

They are all expected to unfold their campaign strategies to the electorate and all tried to woo their northern elders to their agenda.

*Tinubu

Tinubu went to Kaduna to share his blueprint at an Arewa interactive session organised for presidential candidates yesterday to share his blueprint for Nigeria’s development at an interactive session with the Joint Committee at Arewa House, Kaduna.

The Arewa Joint Committee is made up of representatives from frontline northern groups such as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Ahmadu Bello Foundation (ABF), Arewa Research and Development Project, and Jamiyyar Matan Arewa.

He praised past leaders of the country, including the late Northern Nigerian regional leader and premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Tinubu also lauded the contributions of Nigeria’s first and only prime minister, Tafawa Balewa; the late Western Nigeria premier, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his Eastern Nigerian contemporary, the late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The APC standard bearer described the past leaders as being visionary statesmen who gave their all to nation-building.

Before addressing the northern leaders, Tinubu first visited the tomb of the late Ahmadu Bello. He prayed there, for his invaluable sacrifice to the North and the country.

Tinubu said he would continue to give his best, even as president, to ensure that the country remains indivisible, achieving greatness together as one.

“As I said when I chaired the Sardauna Memorial Lecture last year, I have a solemn feeling of responsibility and duty to our country every time I am here.

“Standing here evokes memories of a great leader and a father of this nation, the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Sardauna of Sokoto. The contributions of the Sardauna to nation-building remain a reference point for us all. He was a visionary builder of men and institutions.

“The dream of Sardauna, and indeed that of our other great leaders such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, and our first and only Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, was for one indivisible and prosperous nation built on shared values of patriotism, equity, justice, and brotherhood.

“It is, therefore, no coincidence that at Independence this vision was laid out and encapsulated in our first national anthem. It says: ‘Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand.’

“This is a strong statement that acknowledges our diversity, and, therefore, the existence of different perspectives and interests, and how that should not stand on the path of our unity as brothers.

“The framers of this anthem, God rest their souls, will cringe to know that 62 years after, someone would come to this hallowed platform to campaign based on tribe or where others come from.

“The dream of those forefathers, ladies, and gentlemen, was for a nation ‘Where no man is oppressed, a nation ‘with peace and plenty, and these – unity in diversity, peace, and prosperity – are the fulcrum of my mission in this contest.

“They also form the bulk of my address to you this afternoon, in line with the areas the organisers wanted me to address,” Tinubu said.

Speaking on his plans for Nigeria as president, the Jagaban of Borgu promised to consolidate the investments of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in all sectors of the nation, to build on the successes recorded.

He said his administration would, just like he did upon assumption as Lagos State governor, bring out workable policies to ensure that insecurity is nipped in the bud in the North and across the country.

The former Lagos State governor noted that the whole country is endowed with resources that can be harnessed for greater economic development. He said he would focus on tackling underinvestment and effective management.

He said, “Our economic plan would utilise the vast natural resources we have, through strategic investment in infrastructure which will lead to the diversification of the economy and wealth creation across the entire country.

“We will pay attention to modern economic drivers such as the digital economy, creative industries, sports, and entertainment sectors for the benefit of our young people.

“The APC Federal Government has taken several measures to build infrastructure and improve the ease of doing business across the country. This has been complemented by the efforts of some of our states to attract investments in diverse sectors of the economy.

“Under my leadership, the Nigerian government will be business-friendly. We shall support private businesses in our country and attract foreign direct investment to create jobs, re-industrialise our country and accelerate economic development.

“Nigerian businesses in sectors like banking and cement have successfully ventured out of the country to build thriving subsidiaries. We will build a strong domestic economy, expand the capacity of our domestic market to support growth, and encourage export capacity in the areas of our competitive advantage.

“We have the endowments to be a prosperous country. I will lead a renewed push to move us from the status of a nation of potential into a country of actual accomplishments as an economic dynamo.”

The event was witnessed by APC governors from the north, including Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, Plateau State’s Solomon Lalong, who is also the Director-General (D-G) of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

Others are the governors of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, Yobe State governor, Mai Bala Buni, and Zamfara State’s, Bello Matawalle.

Former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, also attended the occasion with Hadiza Bala Usman, Deputy Director-General of the campaign council.

*Obi

Also yesterday, the presidential candidate of LP, Peter Obi, told the gathering of Arewa leaders that he would rescue Nigeria from becoming a failed state.

Obi stated that any country that is no longer in control of the economy and security, is nothing but a failed state.

While promising that if elected president in 2023, he would positively change the narrative, Obi stressed that the problem of Nigeria was not a lack of ideas, but institutional weakness and lack of political will to effect genuine change that will better the lives of the citizens.

He said he was committed to unlocking the greatness of the country and lifting it from a consumption to a producing country.

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He also promised to ensure that the security challenges facing the country were squarely addressed, adding that employment opportunities would be created for youths who are tools used to perpetrate social vices.

According to him, once jobs are created and the youths are gainfully engaged and made productive, insecurity would have been reduced to the barest minimum and will no longer be a lucrative business.

“We want to bring a transformative government. The greatest assets of Nigeria are in the north, the greatest assets of Nigeria are vast uncultivated land in the north but these lands have been taken by bandits. We are going to unlock Nigeria”.

“We will bring Nigeria back to life. All banks will be shareholders in the Bank of Agriculture where our farmers can directly assess loans,” Obi said.

Earlier, Obi’s visit peaked with a high-profile visit to popular Kaduna Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, yesterday

The LP candidate and his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmad were hosted at Gumi’s residence in Kaduna.

Obi solicited Gumi’s support to back his support for his plans for Nigeria if elected as the next president in the February 2023 elections.

Gumi thanked Obi for the visit, which he described as a great honour by the presidential candidate who came and briefed him about his plan for the country.

*Atiku

Before Tinubu visited Kaduna yesterday, the presidential candidate of the leading opposition party in the country, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, was in the former capital city of the Northern Region.

His campaign visit was, however, visited with violence, as thugs clashed in the state capital.

Atiku decried the attack on PDP and its supporters yesterday, on his Twitter handle.

He further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call on all parties to call their supporters and members to order and to ensure that campaigns are safe.

PDP national spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, in a press statement, said the unprovoked attack was not only reprehensible but also exposes the desperation of the APC “which is overwhelmed by the continuing popularity of the PDP and our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for which they have now resorted to violence.

He said, “The aim of the APC for this attack is to frustrate the PDP presidential rally, trigger tension, violence and cause bloodletting in Kaduna State.

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“This is contrary to the undertaking in the peace accord signed by political parties on September 28, 2022, in which the presidential candidate of the APC was conspicuously absent.

“The attack today by the APC must give well-meaning Nigerians concern as some reports allege that the vicious assault on the PDP presidential campaign was spearheaded by the APC governorship candidate in Kaduna State.

“The frustrated APC having realised that it cannot legally and legitimately sponsor candidates for the 2023 general elections has now resorted to violence and attacking our party members and innocent citizens to derail the entire democratic process.

“The APC is intimidated by Atiku Abubakar’s popularity and acceptance among the majority of Nigerians following their confidence in Atiku Abubakar’s practical experience, record, capacity, broad-mindedness, Pan-Nigerianism and willpower to unite our nation, revamp our devastated economy and guaranteed security of lives and property in our country.

“In any case, our party is undeterred by such cowardly attacks as Nigerians are already connected with our issue-based campaign and Atiku Abubakar’s message of hope which is already resonating throughout the nooks and crannies of our country.

“The PDP salutes the courage displayed by the people of Kaduna State in coming out en masse to resist and overwhelm the APC and its agents, ensure the success of the PDP Rally, reinforce their support for Atiku Abubakar and re-emphasize the fact that Kaduna State is home to PDP, which gave Atiku Abubakar the highest votes in the 2019 Presidential election.

“These desperate elements should be reminded that from history, the people of Kaduna State have never been cowed or subjugated and cannot now especially in their present resolve to vote in Atiku Abubakar as the next President of Nigeria.

“The PDP acknowledges the massive inflow of new members into our Party, especially from the fizzling APC in Kaduna State and throughout the country because APC failed in governance.”

He added, “Kaduna State is a melting pot state and such inflow into the PDP denotes the confidence and trust Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, and political affiliation, repose in Atiku Abubakar as the next president of the country.

“It should be recalled that the PDP, on Sunday, October 16, 2022, alerted on the plot to disrupt our scheduled Presidential Campaign in Kaduna State today. Our Party, therefore, charges security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to book.

“The PDP calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to call his party men to order and ensure adequate security for a free, fair, and credible electoral process in our country.”

Following the clashes between party supporters in Kaduna, there were allegations and counter-allegations by parties on sponsorship of violence.

The ramifications of this could not be established yesterday before going to the press.