Brighter Days Ahead -Tinubu

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday assured Nigerians of a brighter future, if elected in next year’s poll.

He promised to set up a government of nation builders while consolidating on the foundations laid by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The former Lagos State governor described next year’s election as “a fight not to leave the country to looters”.

He added that APC will never surrender to the opposition in its bid to stop efforts to clean the rot they bequeathed to the country.

The eminent politician also promised to assemble the best team to run the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari explained why Tinubu should succeed him.

He described the standard bearer as a remarkable man, a visionary, and a patriotic man.

Tinubu, the President added, is capable of articulating and implementing progressive policies required to advance good governance.

President Buhari also lauded Tinubu’s democratic credentials, foresight, ability to take bold decisions and capacity for economic management.

Speaking at the flag-off of the APC presidential campaigns in Jos, Plateau State capital, the President said “the country needs a man like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu”.

He urged the party faithful to campaign on issues and the abilities of the candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

Accompanied by governors and other party leaders, President Buhari urged Nigerians to vote for the candidate to succeed him.

He said: “The party has taken a stand and we are going to support and campaign for him to be elected president of Nigeria.”

At the Jos Township Stadium, the venue of the carnival-like campaign, former Labour leader Issa Aremu, who spoke at the event, said workers will vote for Tinubu because he was the most labour-friendly governor of his era and the first to implement the minimum wage.

Before the commencement of the campaign, President Buhari and Tinubu paid a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwon Jos, Jacob Baba, in his palace.

The APC, he said, will never surrender to the opposition in its bid to stop the efforts to clean the rot they bequeathed to the country.

Tinubu, who elaborated on his manifesto titled: “Renewed Hope 2023,” received the party flag from the president and the APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Tinubu said: “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, 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 toward our approved destination – an even better Nigeria. This is what the election is truly about.”

He further said: “We, the APC and the Tinubu/Shettima team, seek to make permanent a covenant of progressive good governance with the people.

“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 tech-savvy, innovative youth will benefit as will our overall economy. talented youth will find a place in our government.

“We will bring greater power through natural gas and reasonable reform of the entire power sector.

“Our government will continue the infrastructural expansion so the overall economy may continue to expand in lockstep.

“Most importantly, I will give utmost priority to extinguishing terrorists and violent criminals. We shall augment our military, police and security personnel while providing them with better tactical communication and mobility. We will employ hi-tech aerial surveillance to track and attack these menaces.

“These evil forces seek to destroy our democratic way of life. I have news for them. We will defeat their destructive way of life. They shall be utterly defeated and vanquished from our soil.”

Adamu, who described President Buhari as an achiever, said the flag presented to Tinubu was a symbol of authority to lead the party into the polls.