•L-R: Hon Akeem Bamgbola, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, Hon Abiodun Faleke, Mr. Damola Kasunmu, National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC Governorship Candidate, Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, his running mate, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; during Igbo Endorsement Rally For Buhari/Osinbajo and all APC candidates in Lagos State at Onikan Stadium, Lagos yesterday. PHOTO: TAIWO OKANLAWON
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday urged Nigerians not to yield to any campaign designed to divide the country along religious and ethnic lines.
Addressing party supporters at the Ndigbo APC rally held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos, Tinubu accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of fanning the embers of division with a view to pulling the country down.
Tinubu described the Igbos in Lagos as dedicated and committed people who have made significant contributions to the development of the state and Nigeria in general.
He said: “Some of you have been here for over 50 years, doing your businesses unmolested. Nobody can discriminate against you. Nobody will fight you because of your language.
“Now, they have been coming to Lagos, calling you group by group or giving you dollars, even ‘dollarised’ rice, ‘dollarised akpu’ , but can this translate any of these into school fees for your children? Can this open business opportunities for you in Lagos? The APC government has opened several opportunities for Igbo and we will continue to do so.”
He said when Nigerians voted for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, it was not done on the basis of where he came from, but in the belief that he would deliver on his electoral promises.
The president, he alleged, has failed to fulfill his promises, and has even made life more difficult for the people.
He recalled that when the president assumed the leadership of the country, the dollar sold for N120.
“Today, the naira has fallen; it is now N340 to a pound, the cost of living has hit the ceiling, traders are finding it difficult to replace their stocks. The business community is suffering and Nigerians need a saviour to bail us out.”
He said General Muhammadu Buhari saved the country in the past when it was facing socio-economic challenges, noting that the majority of Nigerians now look forward to him to bail the country out of its predicament.
He said those campaigning that age was not on Buhari’s side miss the point.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo contested his last election at the age of 74, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of blessed memory contested his last election at the age of 79, Nelson Mandela ruled South Africa at 74.
“Buhari is a soldier and a patriot, when America needed the greatest patriot to rescue it from economic challenges; they chose a retired soldier Dwight Eisenhower. When France was invaded by Soviet communists, the French went to General Charles De Gaulle. When Britain was in trouble they invited Winston Churchill to save them
“This is the time we need General Buhari who has done it before to rescue us from this elephantiasis.”
Also speaking, the Lagos State governorship candidate of APC, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said the Igbo in Lagos have everything to gain if he is voted into office.
“Lagos has stood for all of us, it is time for the people to stand for Lagos,” he said.
“I know that economic hardship does not discriminate; we are all facing a difficult time and if something is not done Nigeria will go bankrupt”.
He promised to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Babatunde Fashola.
Igbo leader, Chris Nwakobia, said the PDP has failed the country and declared that the Igbo, are not articles of trade to be used and dumped.
He said the destiny of the Southeast is tied to that of the other geo-political zones, hence the need for all of them to work together.
“We repudiate those who tinker with the idea of dividing us along religious and ethnic lines. We believe that together we can make Nigeria work. That is why the Igbo are for change. We believe that with the Yoruba and Hausa we shall make Nigeria better,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment