Lagos Shutdown For Tinubu, Shettima, Sanwo-Olu

The list of the dignitaries was no less intimidating. No fewer than 10 governors of the party were in attendance.

Members of the Federal Executive Council and federal and state legislators also came aplenty as were party officials.

Adding glamour to the rally were several Nollywood actors and actresses and even masquerades.

Non-indigene groups from across the state were also there to show their support.

Tinubu, accompanied by his running mate Senator Kashim Shettima, the APC National Chairman Senator Adamu Abdullahi, the Director-General of his campaign organisation Simon Lalong and the APC governors as well as other dignitaries, had driven into the arena in an open roof double-decker bus amidst cheers from supporters who had lined the roads.

Addressing the rally, Tinubu promised to set up a government of inclusion, if elected.

He said: “I don’t think anything is missing here today. We are going to continue progressive government in 2023.

“I am indeed grateful to the people of Lagos State. I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is a broom revolution.

“We will do our best for Nigeria,” he said, although he was quick to add that “It is not going to be easy at the starting point.”

Tinubu said none of the 23 APC governors would desert him, and would all be part of his inclusive government.

His administration, he said, would be a progressive one offering Nigerians the benefits of education, health, social welfare and employment opportunities.

He was optimistic that the APC would not lose any of the 22 states it is currently governing.

Tinubu urged the electorate to use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to retire the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from politics next year.

His words: “I know one man, one selfish man. He has been running since 1999. He ran in PDP. He ran in ACN. He ran in APC; an ingrate.

“He said he is articulated. There are many articulated vehicles in Apapa. Use your votes to retire him. Use your PVCs to retire him this time around. Don’t listen to him.

“I saw his pamphlet this morning. He said he wanted to end poverty in Nigeria. They were there for 16 years. They didn’t remember Lagos/Badagry Road, East/West Road, Kaduna/Kafanchan Road.”

Tinubu urged Lagosians to re-elect Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, for the progress and stability of Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu  thanked  Tinubu for “being the architect and builder of the modern Lagos that we’re all enjoying today; for having the vision, the character, the tenacity to push forth an idea into a plan that has birthed the new Lagos today.”

Sanwo-Olu, who praised Chairman Adamu for his fatherly role during the campaigns, thanked other party leaders for storming Lagos to support Tinubu.

He described the former governor as the architect and builder of modern Lagos; a tenacious advocate and champion of unity and cohesion in the country.

Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu’s feats are visible in his professional calling and politics, stressing that many have been privileged to enjoy the benefits of his knowledge and leadership.

He said: “We are here in the spirit of resilience of Lagos, which Asiwaju wants to translate as president of Nigeria.”

House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who said the rally was organised to energise Tinubu’s base, enjoined party members to convince more undecided voters to endorse Tinubu at the polls.

Gbajabiamila, who is seeking re-election in Surulere Constituency, said although those at the rally were already “Batified,” they should target in their mobilisation for votes the “undecided voters or swing voters.”

He also took it upon himself to answer what he described as “frequently asked questions about Asiwaju.”

The Speaker said: “If they ask: who is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu? Tell them that Tinubu is the greatest politician in modern day Nigeria.

“If they asked: how old is he? Tell them he is the age his mother says he is. If they doubt it, they should go and meet his mother for reconfirmation.

“If they ask about his education, tell them he is more educated than all the candidates put together.

“If they say he is wanted in America, tell them that America has said they don’t know what they are talking about.

“If they say he is corrupt, tell them he is the most investigated person and nothing has been found against him.”

Lauding the candidate’s penchant for talent hunt, Gbajabiamila said: “Tinubu has helped men and women who in turn have developed Nigeria.

To the people of South East and South South in Lagos, he said: “Tinubu has invested in the South East and South South. It is your turn to invest in him.”

The chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said no ticket could match that of Tinubu/Shettima, adding that Tinubu would reenact his Lagos feats if elected as president.

Bagudu urged Nigerians to vote for Tinubu for the right reasons. He also said the candidate will foster inclusion at the national level as he did when he was governor of Lagos, a state that has representatives from all over Nigeria.

Adamu, who presented the party flag to the candidate, urged members of the party and other supporters to stand firm to the end.

He said: “It is not over until it is over. It is not done until it is done. Nigerians have spoken and they are speaking.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the president-in-waiting. He is the next president of Nigeria.”

Tinubu has national acceptance, says Lalong

In his remarks, Lalong said Tinubu has national acceptance that qualifies him to emerge as Nigeria’s next President.

Nigerians, according to the Plateau State governor, are grateful to Lagos for giving them the best candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

“His records of performance in Lagos stand him out as a good manager of people and resources who can make something out of even the most difficult situation.

“He has demonstrated that he can take Nigeria to greater heights through ideas and assembling the best brains,” he said.

Continuing, Lalong said: “He is not a man who talks too much but his results cannot be hidden.

“Since he became Governor of Lagos State, the commercial capital of Nigeria has never been the same again. He did not only govern well but handed over to people that he trained who have carried on with his legacies and also brought up more ideas.

“That is the hallmark of a leader who thinks about the next generation and not just today.

“He stands tall as a manager of men and resources, who can bring out something from nothing.

“Lagos has not been the same since he became governor. He brought worthy successors. He is a bridge builder and he has network across the country.

“The experiences at the rallies have shown that Nigeria wants Tinubu as President.

“Charity begins at home. I urge the smart people of Lagos to support their own who has ability and capability to serve, because he has the competence and charisma.”

Lalong added: “Don’t be deceived by candidates who will give you false statistics and fake promises. Don’t buy their lies.

“President Buhari has asked me to tell you to remain focused and vote for Tinubu/Shettima more than you did for him in 2015 and 2019.”

He maintained that from what happened at the flag-off in Jos to the mammoth crowds in Delta and Ebonyi states recently, it was very clear that Nigerians have decided to go with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima.

Other governors at the rally were Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Bello Masari (Katsina), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), AbdulRaham AbdulRasaq (Kwara) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).

Also at the rally were former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Works Minister Babatunde Fashola; APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore; APC National Vice Chairman (West) Isaacs Kekemeke; Generals Tukur Buratai and  Abayomi Olonisakin; former Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Senator Ibikunle Amosun(Ogun); Minister of Science and Technology Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora;  Mr. Jack Rich; Paul Obayagbon; Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi; and Chairperson of Nigerian Diaspora Commission Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was the master of ceremonies.

From the Nollywood industry were Yinka Quadri, Saheed Balogun, Eniola Ajao, Foluke Daramola, Taiwo Hassan, Mr. Perfect and others.

‘Tinubu has plenty to offer South-South women’

At a separate rally for women in Calabar yesterday, the wife of the APC presidential candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinibu, and the wife of his running mate, Hajia Nana Shettima, urged support from women in the South South for the APC candidate, saying a vote for him was a vote for the upliftment of women.

Mrs. Tinubu promised that she and Hajia Shettima would work together to support their husbands and constantly remind them of issues of development.

First Lady Aisha Buhari was represented at the rally by her daughter, Zara.

Wife of the Governor of Cross River State and Chairperson South South APC Women and Youth Campaign, Dr.  Linda Ayade, welcomed Mrs Tinubu and other dignitaries to the rally.

National Woman Leader of APC, Dr. Betta Edu, said the women’s wing of the party had concluded arrangements to mobilise 40 million people to vote for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.

She said: “The deal is 40 million votes for Tinubu. We are going for 40 million votes for Tinubu/Shettima.

“If you don’t have your PVC, you are wrong. Don’t let anybody give you money in exchange for your PVC.

“Tinubu has empowered his wife who is a Christian to rise to the position of Senator.

“He has supported women and we have seen it. When you return to your states and LGAs, please mobilise women so that we can cast our votes in support of Tinubu and Shettima.

“I am very pleased because we have so many governors who are supporting Tinubu.

In his remarks, the APC Cross River State Chairman Alphonsus Eba pledged to use his office to gather massive votes for Tinubu/Shettima.

Governor Ayade also promised to support APC women in achieving success.

Tinubu is a committed democrat, let’s trust him with our mandate – Al-Makura

Some 607 kilometers from Lagos yesterday, the immediate past governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, was also rooting for Tinubu.

Al-Makura called the APC flag bearer a committed democrat who should be trusted with votes to lead Nigeria in 2023.

He spoke at the inauguration of his campaign team for Nasarawa South Senatorial district ahead of 2023 general elections.

He said: “The Jagaban of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we don’t need to go far before we can sell him to the people of Nigeria.

“This is someone I call a committed democrat; someone who has been fighting for democracy every day of his life since 1990. Such a person can be trusted. He turned Lagos into a centre of excellence.

The former governor, who is currently representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, said: “I have come here to notify you officially through this campaign council that I’m embarking on yet another exercise so that I will continue with the little I have been able to do in the past four years in the Senate.

“I don’t need to mention what I have done, but I can assure you that in every local government, in every development area within the senatorial zone, there is none that I have not touched physically or infrastructurally.

“I want to assure you that if I’m given the opportunity for another four years, I will still do much more than I have already done.”

Also speaking, Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by his Deputy Dr Emmanuel Akabe, pleaded with the people of southern senatorial district to re-elect Senator Al-Makura for more democratic gains.

The inauguration was attended by former and serving commissioners in the state, executive chairmen of local government councils, party executives and chieftains from the senatorial district.

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