The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to desist from attacking President Muhammadu Buhari in their campaign rallies.
He stressed that the main opposition party’s slanders lacked merit and that the President is unaffected by them.
Former Enugu State Governor. Senator Chimaroke Nnamani also added that the constant criticism of the Buhari-led APC administration by the PDP is grossly misplaced, urging prospective voters to ignore the opposition party.
He said PDP leaders attacking the Buhari government know that APC in eight years has performed more than 16 years of PDP.
Tinubu stressed: “People who can’t give power to Nigeria say they want to come back. In only eight years, APC put the rail back. We are putting refineries back and we will produce for you.
“They can abuse Buhari from morning till night. He does not hear their abuse. Abuse him, rail he provided, Second Niger Bridge he provided, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway he provided. Benin-Ore Port will be done so that you don’t need to come to Lagos to clear your goods,” he said.
Tinubu, who spoke at a town hall meeting in Benin, Edo State capital, said if elected, the state would experience prosperity.
At the town hall meeting was Deputy Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; former Edo State Governor, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor; former Edo State APC governorship candidate, Pastor Ize Iyamu; Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare; and Minister of State for Labour, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN).
Before the session, Tinubu and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. He told the first-class monarch: “You talked about the education of our children. It is in our work plan and I can tell you as I am standing here, the programme is there. Education reform will happen. We will establish student loans we will minimize the interest rate and stagger their payments and give parents relief. They do not have to be slaves to the circumstances.
“Benin is the economic centre of this region, rich in resources, rich in gas. We are working on West African gas that will sell in Europe. I assure you, we are going to mend all those anomalies and Edo will be a centre of economic activities for all”.
On the return of artefacts taken away from Benin, Tinubu said he would fight for restitution if elected. He also gave an assurance that he would support the construction of a museum to house the artefacts.
Tinubu added: “I am here to seek your prayers. I fought for and suffered for democracy in this country. I made sacrifices. When we started these eight years, it is only normal to look forward to succession. I told President Buhari that I am running and I am running nowhere. I am running for the villa when you move out. I want to occupy the place. Therefore, I need your blessings. The blessings are important to me”.
The Oba of Benin hailed Tinubu’s pledge to support the Benin Royal Museum, located opposite his palace, which he said would boost tourism and research.
Oba Ewuare II said the Federal Government had taken over the building of the museum through the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
