Former Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole, Minister of State for Labor and Productivity Festus Keyamo, All Progressives Congress presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at a town hall meeting in Benin on Sunday.
…PDP abuse does not move President Buhari
All Progressives Congress presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured the people of Edo state that he will make money for Nigeria and create prosperity for the people of the state by ensuring the development of gas deposits in the state.
Tinubu, speaking at the town hall meeting in Benin to APC stakeholders and different business groups and civil society organizations on Sunday, said that under his leadership, Nigeria will pipe gas to Europe and compete with Russia.
He urged the people of Edo State to reclaim their status from the Peoples’ Democratic Party by forging unity of purpose.
He promised to be a caring president that the people of Edo State can trust.
“Edo, get your status back. First, let’s forge unity. Let’s look for the path where they say there is no path.
“We must rescue the state of Edo. I am ready to work with you. Take the flashlight, go from house to house. Don’t get angry. Anger does not solve problems. Disappointment is an energizer for me. You disappoint me, I work harder. You betray me, I don’t get angry, I ignore you.
“The reason is because you are not my God and you are not my creator. My mother taught me that if you are sad, I will share your grief with you, if you are happy, I will rejoice with you. If you are poor, I will share with you what little I have.”
The APC presidential candidate accused the people of Edo state of not voting for the PDP and Atiku Abubakar because the opposition party is not organized and cannot solve the country’s problems.
“You see PDP. They are scattered, they do not know the way. Atiku doesn’t know how to lie again except to fake lie after lie. Atiku cannot have a serious job for Nigeria. When the Aluminum Smelter Company was being privatized into Ikot Abasi and NITEL, I was negotiating a Free Trade Zone in China. I traded Lekki Deep Seaport in Singapore and now it is the Deepest Sea Port in West Africa. Edo people are extremely intelligent. You can do the job.
“Count on me at the federal level. I’ll be your president listen. Vote for me. Prosperity is here. When you place ballots in the box, say that it is to create employment. I will create jobs for you because you are not lazy.”
On the PDP’s constant criticism of the Buhari-led APC administration, Asiwaju Tinubu said the opposition party should be ignored.
“People who can’t empower Nigeria say they want to come back. In just 8 years, APC took back the railroad. We are putting Refineries back on and we will produce for you. They can bully Buhari from morning till night, he doesn’t listen to bullying from him. Abuse him, the railway he provided, the second Niger bridge he provided, the Lagos-Ibadan highway he provided. The port of Benin-Ore will be made so that you do not have to come to Lagos to dispatch your goods.
“Nigeria will earn money because Edo has the largest gas deposit. We will make money for Nigeria. There will be long-term money for long-term projects. We will develop our gas and send it to Europe and compete with Russia. I am one of the smartest assets in Nigeria.”
Speaking further than his prepared speech at the town hall meeting, the former Lagos state governor said his administration will grow the nation’s industrial base to provide decent jobs and improve wages for Nigerians.
“Now we must begin to make use of all the endowments of our nation. Further industrialization is a vital aspect of this. Through the production of more and better goods, we will improve our standard of living, provide workers with a living wage, and establish businesses that will fuel our national economy for generations.”
According to the APC candidate, the massive industrialization across the country will cause economic prosperity to spread far and wide in this country.
“Our industrial plan will encourage the establishment of new manufacturing companies throughout the country. We see a future where Nigeria is known as a nation that produces high-quality goods worthy of export to any part of the world.
“To achieve this vision, we will use a series of policy measures. On the fiscal side, we will employ tax credits and vacations, youth employment incentives, export credits, and well-tailored subsidies where necessary. On the money side, we will work with the banking sector to channel low-interest loans to the manufacturing sector.
“We will spark a consumer credit revolution where affordable credit is available so people can buy cars, houses and appliances without having to pay for such expensive items all at once.
“Our policies will give local artisans and artisans across the country the tools they need to support their families and ultimately boost overall economic activity for the national good,” he added.
Present at the town hall meeting were APC Presidential Campaign Council Deputy Director General Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu, former Edo State Governor Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, the candidate for governor of the Edo State APC in the last state elections, Pastor Ize Iyamu, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Minister of State for Labor, Festus Keyamo and many other Edo State party leaders.
