Pictures from the APC presidential flag-off rally in Jos have debunked some rumours in some quarters that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unhealthy.
The pictures showed an agile and effervescent Tinubu.
They also put to rest speculations that Tinubu would not be able to attend rallies outside Abuja.
In his characteristic manner, the former Lagos State Governor was seen moving around the VIP section of the Jos Township stadium, waving the APC flag without any sign of frailty or ill-health.
He even swayed to music that intermittently broke his speech.
President Muhamadu Buhari said he will work with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders for the election of Sen. Ahmed Tinubu as his successor come 2023.
Buhari stated this in his brief speech at the flag off of APC presidential campaign on Tuesday in Jos.
“The party has taken a stand and we are going to support and campaign for him to be elected president of Nigeria.
“I am not going to read a long speech, I am here to hand over our party flag to him,” he said.
Sen. Abdullahi of Adamu, the APC National Chairman, said in his speech that the party was honoured to have the president attending the inauguration of the campaign in person.
Adamu said that Buhari’s presence showed his commitment to the party and all its candidates.
The chairman stated that Buhari’s achievements surpassed those of his predecessors in terms of infrastructure and other areas.
“I ask you all to stand up and applaud Buhari for a job well done.
“Our party has performed creditably well, we promise change and we delivered change,” he said.
He pointed out that the party flag as handed over to the candidate, was a symbol of authority to lead the party into 2023 general elections.
According to him, the flag is the banner of the party and must remain clean at all times.
“We must not do anything that will stain the banner. It will stain when we fail to be good ambassadors and faithful servants of the party.
“We stain the banner when we do things that negate free, fair and credible elections,” he emphasised.
He said that it would not do them any good if APC members failed to work hard for the success of the party.
Adamu further said that he understood that hard work and unity of purpose would produce the desired results for the party.
The chairman urged APC members not to relent saying “it is not over until it is over, until the trophy of victory is in our bag, we will not rest”.
He further urged party members to vote all APC candidates in the elections.
Adamu added that the party was in the race to win at all levels.
Senate President Ahmed Lawan assured Buhari and Tinubu that all National Assembly members were completely committed to supporting presidential candidate and his running mate.
Lawan said that the APC worked hard to elect more the 75 per cent its members to National Assembly so that the next president would enjoy robust relationship with the legislature.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, led other stalwarts to Jos, Plateau State to flag off the presidential campaign rally of the party.
At the rally held on Tuesday at Jos Township Stadium, President Buhari assisted by Adamu handed over the party’s flag to Asíwájú Tinubu.
He reiterated his promise to lead the party’s campaign for the 2023 presidential election.
Adamu, who said the APC is in the presidential race to win, rallied APC supporters in the state to come out en-masse to vote for all APC candidates. Buhari hands over APC flag to TinubuTinubu and Shettima acknowledge cheers with the broomBuhari and Tinubu at the rally in JosTinubu, his wife, Buhari, Lalong
“The people of Plateau state deserves the best and would achieve that if you continue to support the party at the centre that has shown commitment and performed so well.
“Our Director General, Simon Lalong, is your Governor and your son. He is a prominent member and knight of the catholic church. APC is your party where you have huge stakes. You must protect your stake,” he said.
The flag off had in attendance Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kashim Shettima, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila.
In attendance were Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Prof. Ben Ayade (Crossrivers) Governors Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Lagos Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat, former Bauchi governor Mohammed Abubakar, former Ekiti governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Borno, Modu Ali-Sheriff, and former Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.
There were also Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of APC Presidential Candidate, Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice Presidential Candidate Shettima, both of whom also addressed the rally, and Dr. Ibijoke Sanwoolu, wife of Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, ministers and members of APC National Working Committee.
On arrival in Jos on Monday, Asíwájú Tinubu and his entourage had paid a courtesy call on Gbong Gwon Jos, Jacob Buba, who described both Tinubu and his running mate as tested people who have records of achievements, adding that what the country needs at this time are tested men.
While addressing the rally, both the National Chairman of the party and the Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum who is also the governor of Kebbi, Bagudu, commended President Buhari for his achievements.
They said Buhari would be leaving behind important legacies in democracy, good governance, infrastructure development and economic growth particularly in the area of agriculture and food security.
The Director-General of the Tinubu/Shettima Campaigns and governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said Tinubu who is described as City Boy of Lagos is now City Boy of the Plateau.
On his part President Buhari presented the party’s flag to Asiwaju Tinubu to formally present him to Nigerians as the symbol of the party in the coming presidential election.
In his speech that was later interpreted in Hausa language by his running mate, Kashim Shettima, Asiwaju Tinubu, praised Nigerians for believing in the APC to lead the country to progress after years of backwardness under the PDP administration by declaring “hope is back.”
He said the campaign was starting in Plateau, a place that properly shows Nigeria’s vast potentials.
He praised President Buhari, describing him as a man of honour, who had laid a good foundation for the him and Shettima to build on.
He thanked the party for giving him the honour to be the flag bearer. He praised the governors and host, Governor Simon Lalong.
His speech was broken intermittently by electrifying music to which Tinubu and the big party men also swayed.
He said the rally was a celebration of some sort and congratulated wife of Governor Lalong and Senator Tanko Al-Makura, whose birthday coincided with the rally.
Tinubu then spoke about the economic potentials of Plateau state and Nigeria in general.
“One can see greater prosperity and jobs in an economy humming with activity. From the farmer in the rural area to the city boy in a bustling urban centre, each will have productive work to do and a decent home to return to.
“One can see a Nigeria where all who want to will be able to build a decent life from the fruits of their individual and collective endeavour.
“From this fine vantage point, we see how far we have come. We also see how far we must go and the road that will take us there,” Tinubu said.
The APC flag bearer took time to praise President Muhammadu Buhari for his presence at the flag-off and the great foundation he has laid for the nation, which his incoming administration plans to build on.
“I am deeply honoured for the presence of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari. As campaign chairman, he promised to lead from the front. A man of his word, President Buhari has done what he said and more.
“Mr. President, you have provided exceptional service to the nation and party. Your contributions are both positive and enduring. When the history of this period is objectively written, it will smile upon you and treat you with utmost kindness,” he added.
He also praised Adamu for leading the APC and steadying the ship of the party since assuming office as national chairman.
On his plans for the country if elected president, Tinubu said unlike other parties who are either dwelling on a fruitless past or a tomorrow of fantasies, his administration hopes to chart the course of progress already stated by the Buhari administration.
“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 added.
To ensure overall energy security and resource mobilisation for the country, Tinubu promised to continue the ongoing exploration works in all frontier basins and especially speed up the development of the commercial oil find in Gombe/ Bauchi states.
Reeling out the successes of the Buhari administration, Tinubu said there was massive development in the agricultural, infrastructure and power sectors in the last eight years of the APC government.
According to him, these foundations now require more builders to make it a massive structure, calling on all Nigerians to embark on the journey with him.
“Here, I thank president Buhari again because he has truly established a strong foundation for the things we are now to do.
“The Buhari administration achieved things in the agricultural, infrastructural, and power sector no other administration has done. Additionally, his government liberated hundreds of communities from terrorists and brought thousands of displaced persons back to their homes.
“Truly the foundation has been set. It is now time to call more builders forward to further construct the national edifice that will be our best home. We, the APC and the Tinubu/Shettima team, seek to make permanent a covenant of progressive good governance with the people,” he said.
He added, “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 the 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.”
President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Jos Tuesday to lead stalwarts of the All Progressives Congress at the flag-off of the campaign of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The rally took place at the Rwang Pam Stadium in the centre of the city.
The crowd was massive and spilled outside the perimeters of the 45,000 capacity stadium.
Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima and their wives, governors of the party and National Assembly members turned up in APC colours, along with host governor, Simon Lalong.
There were goodwill messages by the state party chairman, the governorship candidate, the governors of Cross River, Jigawa and Kebbi, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum.Buhari arrives Jos for the rallyGovernors at the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos to receive President Buhari
Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Senator Grace Bent have pledged to deliver about 20 million votes in the 2023 General Elections to the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.
They made the commitment during the inauguration of Stakeholders Special Duties Directorate of the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC on Monday in Abuja.
Badaru expressed confidence that APC remained the best party for the progress and development of the country.
“I have no doubt that the directorate has the capacity to deliver 20 million votes in favour of the APC in the 2023 Presidential Election. I am very positive and certain that we shall win.”
Badaru advised Nigerians to ignore the religious sentiment in some quarters regarding the same faith candidature of the party, adding that progressives look beyond religion sentiment.
The Jigawa governor explained that Tinubu had impacted on individuals, groups and states, and expressed the belief that he would improve the lives of all Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Directorate, Sen. Grace Bent, said the major focus of the Directorate was to manage and resolve the public religious outcry against APC ‘s 2023 same -faith Presidential ticket.
“And to also buy back the affection and votes of the estimated 20 million stakeholders and some Nigerians upset with the candidature.
”Tinubu is a good man. He has done so well for missionary schools in Lagos, he raised men regardless of religious background. He is a righteous man who has the fear of God in his heart.
“He is the only person that Nigeria needs now. Tinubu/Shettima will make our country the envy of other countries,” Bent said.
Other leaders of the Campaign Council include Apostle Biodun Sanyaolu as Deputy Coordinator, Pastor Timothy Ademola as Secretary and Ibrahim Bunu as Deputy Secretary.
The directorate comprises religious leaders from Christian and Islamic faith.
NAN reports that action plans of the Directorate include internal and organisational capacity building, private engagements with religious bodies/leaders and profound town-hall engagements with aggrieved religious stakeholders.
Other plans are mass outreach via messages and adverts, mass outreach via branded souvenirs, mass outreach via religious music and messages strategic relations with major prayer centres nationwide.
High points of the event were goodwill messages from religious leaders from the Christian and Islamic faiths, urging Nigerians to avoid sentiments capable of bringing disunity in the country.
Plateau’s Gov. Simon Lalong said on Monday in Jos that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be Nigeria’s next president, God willing since he is flagging off his presidential campaign in Jos
Lalong, who is also the director-general of the Tinubu campaign said that presidential candidates who flagged off their campaigns in Jos usually won the election.
Gov. Lalong made the assertion after he inspected the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos, venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag off.Gov. Lalong at Rwang Pam Stadium with Minister of Youth and Sport Sunday Dare
“MKO Abiola began his campaign in Jos and he won; same as former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“We are optimistic that history will repeat itself and Tinubu will be elected president,’’ he said.
He thanked APC leaders for choosing Plateau, blessed with clement weather for the historic event.
An excited Lalong said all arrangements had been completed to host President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and other prominent members of the party.
The governor lauded the Local Organising Committee (LOC) co-chaired by Deputy House of Representatives Speaker, Ahmed Wase and Plateau’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Soni Tyoden for its efforts.
He expressed confidence that the committee would not disappoint the teeming supporters of the party.
Lalong urged the peace-loving people of Plateau, particularly APC members and supporters to turn out en-masse and support the party.
In his remarks, Wase, the LOC co-chairman, said that committee was committed to organising a befitting campaign flag-off.
“As you can see my happiness especially today, you will see preparedness and readiness of our committee.
“We are very much ready in terms of security and every other thing.
“In terms of security, we are going to have the most secured environment.
“We’re making every effort to ensure that the environment is insulated from any kind of security threat,’’ he said.
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