The presidential candidate of the Congress of all progressives (APC) chief Bola Tinubu praised President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday for following the “procedures” that saw his rise as a standard-bearer for the party.
He spoke during the APC presidential campaign grand finale at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
Before the APC primary election on June 8, the president was perceived to have a preferred successor other than Mr. Tinubu.
But the former governor of Lagos eventually defeated 13 other challengers to win the primary ballot.
A crowd of supporters of the APC presidential candidate at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Tinubu arrived at the campaign rally in the company of Buhari, the president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, his running mate; Kashim Shetima, Governor of Lagos; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, APC National President; Adamu Abdulahi and many other party leaders.
“Thank you a million times over, thank you for today, thank you for the past, and thank you for tomorrow,” Tinubu told the president.
“He set our foot on the path of the future to work hard and achieve greatness because it is desirable for Nigeria to be great.
“You said that for someone to succeed you, he or she must work hard, follow the law, the election must be very transparent, and your party will be a shining example like a sun shining on the mountain.
“Thank you, Mr. President, you followed the procedure. You encourage us all. The primary came, the vote was taken and we were all looking forward to it and I won the votes. You didn’t ask them to reverse it.
The presidential candidate told the crowd of supporters that he will “diligently and vigorously” pursue all the promises in his manifesto.
Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES at the campaign rally, Surulere resident Gbenga Jegede said he came to support Tinubu and prayed that he would emerge as the winner of the election.
“Tinubu will become our president, we are going to vote for Tinubu for this election,” he said.
Jegede said his choice of candidate did not come from ethnic affiliation but from competition.
“What is happening in the country is very bad. …is for our next generation. There will be jobs. Infrastructures, safety of lives.”
Another supporter, Bolanle Popoola, said he will vote for Mr. Tinubu because he has helped a lot of people.
“He has helped a lot of people and… and whoever helps us, we will support that person. I have told my colleagues to vote for APC, he is going to be able to”, said the LAWMA worker.
“Tinubu’s rule will be peaceful and prosperous.”
Fatimo Lawal said that he will do everything possible for him because he is a Yoruba person.
Fatimo Lawal, another supporter of the APC presidential candidate at the campaign rally
Saheed Ariyo, an artist who came with several Tinubu paintings, said the candidate is the “legitimate” one who has leadership skills and will reassure Nigerians.
Mr. Tinubu in his 80-page manifesto titled “Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a better Nigeria” promised to review the revenue sharing formula between the three tiers of government if he is elected.
Saheed Ariyo, displays his APC Tinubu Ball artwork during the presidential campaign in Lagos
As for insecurity, he said it will build on the legacy of the current administration and “recruit, train, and better equip additional military, police, paramilitary, and intelligence personnel.”
It added that it will “redefine military doctrine and practice counter-terrorism battalions, improve wages and welfare, upgrade tactical communications and transportation, improve weapons systems, exploit aerial and technological opportunities.”
On February 25, more than 94 million Nigerians will elect their president for the next four years.
Tinubu, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, NNPP’s Rabiu Kwankwaso and Labor’s Peter Obi are the leading candidates in the presidential race.