All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected hints of friction in his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, saying his support for the president was pure and long-lasting.
At a presidential campaign rally in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state on Saturday, Tinubu vowed to tackle problems besetting the state and improve agricultural productivity.
He thanked the people of Zamfara state and top party leaders for the warm welcome and continued support for the APC.
In his prepared speech that he was unable to read due to the large crowd, Tinubu said: “I have supported President Buhari even before his first day in office. I will continue to be his support and friend to him after his last day in office.”
The former Lagos state governor said President Buhari was leading the nation with courage and selflessness.
He said: “He (Buhari) addressed the issues that other leaders were fleeing from. He has earned a place in history that cannot be denied.
“I have said this before and I will say it again now: When the true history of this moment is written, President Buhari will be treated very kindly because of his contributions to the nation.”
Tinubu criticized the opposition, describing them as misguided politicians who don’t want greatness to happen or last.
He said: “His vision for Nigeria is the vision of someone who cannot see. They seek to get rich by making you poor. They want to eat everything so that you go hungry. They want to own everything but leave you with nothing.
“We are here today to affirm that our vision of a greater Nigeria will trump your blind vision of a broken Nigeria. Remember, where there is blindsight, there is also blind ambition.
“We will not allow their selfish games to get the better of them. President Buhari has done his part to free Nigeria from his cruel control. Now we must do our part by freeing you from the selfish plans they have for you and our beloved land.
“Don’t let those others trick you into going back in time where you had no hope and no say in the life you will live and the future you will enter. The APC remains the best and only hope for a more prosperous and peaceful nation.”
Tinubu also said that he was aware of the challenges facing the people of Zamfara State and has plans to improve them.
He said that President Buhari and Governor Bello Matawalle had been doing their best to put an end to the problem of banditry and vowed to consolidate the recorded gains.
“If Allah blesses us to win this election, we will not give in until we get over this problem.
“My running mate has fought against Boko Haram. As Governor of Lagos, I too have fought against kidnappers and violent criminals. We will use our experience and our vision to defeat the evildoers.
“My security plan will empower all branches of the security forces. There will be more staff and we will improve their ability to identify, prosecute and stop wrongdoers. We will use modern air and ground technology to track and capture these criminals,” she added.
The APC presidential candidate also vowed to reverse the state’s agricultural fortunes and develop other natural resources found in the state.
“Zamfara state has large deposits of natural resources. My economic plan is to cooperate closely with the state government to attract the right type of investment in mining. This investment will not exploit the people of Zamfara. Instead, it will open the door to safer mining, better jobs, and greater economic growth for the state,” he said.
Speaking earlier at the rally, APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle called on state residents to massively support Tinubu in view of his good plans for the state and Nigeria. .
Before attending the rally, Tinubu had visited the Emir of Gusau, Dr. Ibrahim Bello, who conferred on him the title of Wakilin Raya Karkara (Ambassador for Rural Transformation).
Tinubu was accompanied by Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Senator Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, former Governors of Zamfara State; Senator Sani Yerima, Alhaji Mahmuda Shinkafi and Senator Abdulaziz Yari, among other APC leaders.
The demonstration was also attended by former Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (rtd), APC National Women’s Leader Dr. Betta Edu, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, among others.
