The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to address all issues and policies limiting development in the South East if he becomes Nigeria’s president.
At the APC presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on Thursday, Tinubu spoke of his plans for the Igbo as president, assuring that there would be no discrimination against them, same way he encouraged them while he was Lagos Governor.
“I believe in the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo. I encouraged a lot of Igbo businesses and investments in Lagos and will even do more if I become president.
“If elected, there will be no discrimination, Igbo’s interests will be respected and protected. I will also encourage policies to aid commerce and support South East states to reach their full potential.
“I will engage the leaders of the South East in a heart-to-heart discussion on all issues agitating their minds.
“If elected, I will address all issues and policies that tend to hinder their commerce and enterprise. I will work with businessmen and women and encourage them to make the South East the Taiwan of Africa”, Tinubu said.
On his plans for Ebonyi State specifically, Tinubu said: “Working with the state government, I will mechanise the Ebonyi solid minerals sector and install processing plant.
“We will expand Ebonyi agricultural sector and make it one of the largest rice producing states in Africa”.
Tinubu commended the state Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi for his excellent performance in uplifting the state.
“I commend Governor Umahi for lifting up Ebonyi and for his developmental projects, some of which I commissioned yesterday (Wednesday) and his transformational and impactful leadership.
“He has laid a solid foundation for Ebonyi. He remains a good testament to what is possible in Nigeria,” Tinubu said.
Present at the rally held at Abakaliki Township Stadium were APC vice presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Deputy National Chairman, South, Barrister Emma Enekwu, representing the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Umahi; and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, who is also Governor of Kebbi, Senator Atiku Bagudu.
Also present were Governors Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Prof. Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers) as well as members of the party’s National Working Committee and National Assembly members.
Umahi said Tinubu believes in merit and competence and had demonstrated this in his past record of service particularly when he was governor of Lagos.
“Asiwaju knows the road, we must follow him. He has shown that he loves and trusts Igbo and our people.
“He has been here since yesterday. He slept here in Abakaliki and ate our food. Only a man who loves you eats your food”, he said.
For Uzodinnma, there is no more lamentation for the Igbo because they are following the right man to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari.
Earlier on Wednesday on arrival in Abakaliki, Tinubu inaugurated some projects executed by the Umahi administration. These include Camp David Estate and Bishop Nnaji Okoro Dualised Road.
And inside the state Executive Council Chambers in Abakaliki where major traditional rulers in the state had gathered, Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of Dike Di Orama I of Ebonyi (the warrior the people like) by the traditional fathers.
His entourage, which included former House of Representatives Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole; and Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, were later treated to a Gala night where various cultural groups entertained.
Both Bagudu and Badaru, who also addressed the rally, heaped praises on the APC presidential candidate.
The Kebbi State governor described him as a kind-hearted and brilliant leader who would treat all parts of Nigeria equally, while his Jigawa State counterpart, who called Tinubu a father figure, described him as a natural leader who gave him a political platform that brought him into limelight for the governorship of the state, even when he did not know him in person.
