By Peter Uwumarogie
President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Monday in Gombe, canvassed votes for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu.
Buhari, Lawan, some APC governors and the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, were in Gombe to attend the inauguration of APC Presidential Campaign Council in the state.
Buhari restated his supports for Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima, urging Nigerians to elect the APC flag bearer come Feb. 25.
He said insinuations that he was not supporting Tinubu was untrue, adding that he would continue to work for Tinubu’s victory towards ensuring that APC returned to power in 2023.
Represented by Prof Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Buhari said all candidates presented by the APC for various elective offices across the country had his full support.
“I am in full support of all the candidates produced by my party and also in support of the party’s presidential candidate 100 per cent.
“So, anybody who comes and tells you contrary is not saying the truth,” he said.
He enumerated several projects executed by the Federal Government in Gombe State, including oil exploration, which he said was discovered about 40 years ago but was not explored till the coming of his administration.
He said that his administration had implemented several projects in the state that had improved on the wellbeing of citizens, adding that voting Tinubu would help consolidate on gains so far recorded.
On his part, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said Tinubu and Shettima were competent enough to succeed president Buhari in 2023.
Lawan said that the Northeast region of the country had benefited a lot from the APC-led government hence, the need to vote for the party to sustain the good governance it was enjoying under the party.
He said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for 16 years left the Kolmani Oil project unattended to while Boko Haram and infrastructural challenges were not addressed, leaving the people of the Northeast to suffer.
He cautioned electorate not to allow themselves to be deceived by PDP, because “some candidates are saying they should be voted for because they are from Northeast.
“Yet they did nothing for the people of Northeast when they were in power until the coming of APC.”
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State said the APC had done a lot for Nigerians and Gombe State, hence deserved to be returned to power to protect the interests of Nigerians.
“Vote APC from top to bottom; vote Tinubu and Shettima and Inuwa Yahaya for Gombe State and we will not disappoint your confidence and trust.”
The APC National Chairman, Adamu said the APC would continue to deliver on its mandate of developing the country, hence urged electorate in Gombe State to vote all candidates of the party.
On his part, Tinubu, while addressing a huge crowd of supporters at the 12,000-capacity Pantami Township Stadium in Gombe, said if elected he would ensure the prosperity of Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians.
He appealed to voters in the state to give him their votes and also vote all APC candidates at all levels.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu, who was in Gombe to inaugurate his Presidential Campaign Council, was accompanied by his running mate, Kashim Shettima.
Others in attendance were the Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council and Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State.
Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe; Babagana Zulum of Borno and Jigawa State governor, Muhammad Badaru.(NAN)
