Minna – Bola Tinubu abandoned his prepared speech in Minna on Wednesday as a mammoth crowd of supporters converged on the Trade Fair Complex, Minna, the venue of the All Progressives Congress Presidential campaign rally.
The electrifying crowd was too ecstatic to see Tinubu shortly after he was in Minna when he attended the Town Hall meeting with farmers and agro-commodity traders.
The shout of “Asiwaju, you don win, you don win, don’t say anything” rented the air.
Huge crowd at the Minna rally on Wednesday.
Huge crowd at the Minna rally on Wednesday.
An obviously elated and overwhelmed Tinubu seeing the level of support and goodwill from the people thanked them profusely for their love and readiness to vote for him.
Tinubu who had come with a prepared speech had to abandon the speech to just express his gratitude to the people.
The rally was attended by Vice Presidential Candidate, Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, and several governors of the party including Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau) who is also the Director-General of the campaign.
Also at the rally were former governors, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Abdulaziz Yari and the party’s governorship candidate in Niger State, Muhammed Umar Bago.
Shortly after the rally, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the party’s National Chairman, joined the campaign entourage.
Before heading back to Abuja, the APC presidential candidate paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, and inaugurated two campaign offices donated by Senator Sani Musa Mohammed and Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
In the prepared speech that he couldn’t read, Tinubu promised to ensure that Niger State and indeed all states in Nigeria will reap the benefits of the available resources they have.
Specifically for Niger State, he pledged routine dredging of River Niger and full development of Baro Port.
The APC presidential flagbearer said Niger is blessed with resources that the state can benefit from for economic advancement.
“Your State has ample resources and large potential. Not only does Niger cover the largest land mass of any State in Nigeria, but it also serves as the home to three hydroelectric power plants that symbolically light the way forward to hope renewed.
“By God’s grace, I shall be elected. If so, my administration will further empower Niger State so that you reap the full benefits of its bounteous resources. We appreciate your vital role as the state that powers the nation. The nation will show its gratefulness by investing in your future. The power state will become the More Powerful State,” Tinubu said.
He underscored his economic plan which include building roads for easy movement of agricultural products and creating better opportunities for the farmers.
The speech says further, “Our economic plan will make strategic investments in industry and infrastructure, giving our talented people the chance to make a good living while producing valuable goods that will improve the quality of life for those who buy them. Federal roads such as the Minna – Bida road, Lambata – Bida road, Suleja – Minna road, Birnin Gwari – Jebba road, and Minna – Kotangora road will be improved such that that they become better avenues of travel and commerce for wellbeing and prosperity of all of us. My Action Plan calls for a modern railway network such that you shall be able to move the things you make and produce to markets throughout Nigeria, West Africa and beyond.
“We must continue to plant and grow the seed of food security by pressing forward with the expansion of our agricultural sector. We will return farming to its glorious past by giving it an even better future. We shall ensure that farmers realize the full value of their produce. Commodity Exchange boards will set minimum prices for strategic agricultural produce, ensure our farmers do not toil in vain but earn a decent income for their toil.”
Tinubu also promised to address the problem of irrigation in the state, developing water management/catchment systems and irrigation that tame the cycle of flood and drought.
Just like he promised in other northern states, the former Lagos State governor also promised to address the security challenges the state is faced with.
Tinubu was not rushed off the stage in Minna, why he left early – Onanuga
Meanwhile, the Director of Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, has rubbished reports that presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was rushed off the stage at his rally in Minna due to health concerns.
According to Onanuga, the brief address by Tinubu at the rally was because he has other engagements for the day.
He disclosed this in a statement shared on the official website of the APC presidential candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
The statement read, “A massive crowd of APC supporters welcomed the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Minna on Wednesday, as he arrived for the mega rally.
“The cheering crowd was unprecedented, according to journalists at the Trade Fair Complex, the venue of the rally.
“Tinubu, who held another successful rally in Kaduna on Tuesday, arrived in Minna in the evening of the same day for a series of meetings with APC leaders.
“The crowd was so huge that Tinubu spoke briefly to appreciate the supporters and identified the party candidates seeking elective positions.
“Contrary to the rumours that he was rushed off stage because of health concerns, Tinubu cut it short to attend to other programmes of the day.
“He commended the party supporters for coming out en masse to witness the flag off of the presidential campaign.”
After the rally, Tinubu inaugurated his campaign office in the city, donated by Blueprint Newspaper Publisher and Chairman, of Strategic Communications of the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, Mohammed Malagi.
He also paid a visit to the Emir of Minna and was later hosted in a luncheon organized by the Governor of Niger, Abubakar Bello.
