Tinubu: I’ll be fair to all tribes

Members of the Arewa Group under the aegis of Arewa Support Movement and ‘Arewa Community in APC’ converged on Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, for a rally attended by Tinubu and Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The Northern groups were led by Alhaji Saadu Dandare, Chairman of Arewa Community in Lagos APC, and Kabiru Abdulahi, Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure.

Ganduje, who hailed the huge crowd for its solidarity, described Tinubu as adetriabalise Nigerian and a product of unity.

After the rally, Tinubu stormed the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos for a special prayer organized by an Islamic Movement, Al-Jamahatul Quadiriyah Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

Also yesterday, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq said Tinubu is unstoppable, adding that the state will vote for him.

At the Onikan rally, Ahmed Tinubu promised to honour his campaign promises to Nigerians, to foster national integration and be fair to all ethnic groups constituting the heterogeneous country.


The APC candidate said under his leadership, Nigerians will live in peace, despite their ethnic and religious differences.

Tinubu said: “My respect for this country will continue to increase, and I will honour all my pledges that we all will live in harmony. We belong in each other’s hearts.”

He also assured that his government would be for all Nigerians, not favouring any religion or tribe.

Tinubu recalled that when he was governor of Lagos State, he appointed people into the State Executive Council from other regions of the country.

He said: “From the moment I enlisted in politics, I have always been nationalistic and detribalised in my approach. I do not operate on the basis of ethnicity, region or religion. I have friends and associates in all corners of this country.

“As governor of Lagos State, I constituted a cabinet, comprising competent people from all parts of Nigeria. We had the Yoruba, as we had the Igbo and Arewa. What was important to me was not your ethnicity or creed, it was your competence and the value you would bring to governance and people.

“To replicate this feat for the country is why I have offered myself for the presidency.”

On his plans for the country, most especially the North, Tinubu promised to tackle the security situation across the country, stressing that the economy cannot thrive in an insecure environment.

Tinubu added: “If elected president, my highest priorities shall be the protection of our land and prosperity of its people. I shall tackle this nation’s problems with a commitment to solving them.

“I will give priority to confronting security, making the economy one of widely shared prosperity and paying special attention to agriculture like the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“On security, my policy is not an artificial one created to sound good for this campaign. Our security policy is based on dedicated study and long conversations with experts in this field.

“I used the same approach to tackle the bad security situation that faced me when I became governor of Lagos. I created programmes and institutions to solve the real and dangerous challenges Lagos faced. I shall increase security personnel and better equip them. Advanced air and ground surveillance technology will identify, track and attack the criminals until they are utterly defeated.”

Tinubu also promised to provide jobs for youths, while also ensuring that electricity generation is improved to allow more people to set up small businesses to feed their families.

He said great attention would be given to agriculture, to ensure that there is increased food security through enhanced productivity and improved farm incomes, thus returning farming to its prominent position.

The standard bearer also promised to invest in road and rail infrastructural development to ensure easy movement of goods and products while also strengthening the education sector to guarantee the future and guide the youth toward better lives.

Tinubu said: “We will invest in the Kolmani Oil Wells Project inaugurated by President Buhari and indeed, in all vital infrastructural projects such as the Mambilla Power Project, the AKK gas pipeline projects.

“We shall revive our inland waterways through the dredging of the River Niger and make sure we cut down on our steel import bill by making the Ajaokuta Steel Company work.”

Ganduje said Nigeria is a country of diversity, nothing that Tinubu has demonstrated that he could utilise the country’s diversity for development and prosperity.

He said: “He is a symbol of unity, a product of unity in diversity. He is the right person to be endorsed by Arewa and the best for the presidency.”

Arewa community leader Dandare said Tinubu had done a lot for Lagos and Nigeria, adding that if the country has more of him in each geo-political zones, it will be a better place and people will not be flocking Lagos.

At the prayer session at the National Stadium, Tinubu urged Nigerians to emulate the patriotism of the Al-Jamahatul Quadiriyah Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

He said: “Al-Jamahatul Quadiriyah Islamic Movement, the Lagos chapter, has shown us that we should always help our neighbours with prayer, either they are in good condition or they are still striving for good living.”

Ganduje, who also accompanied the presidential candidate to the event, said the Quadiriyah movement had exhibited peaceful co-existence among Nigerians, adding that the motive for praying for the nation teaches indiscrimination and religious tolerance.

He said: “Al-Jamahatul Quadiriyah Islamic Movement, Lagos chapter, has replicated what Bola Tinubu will add to his national propagation if he is elected into office.”

One of the leaders of the Islamic Movement, Khaleefah Ahmad Rufai, Naqeebul-Ashraf, said Quadiriyah had prayed for a thriving economy and national security in Nigeria because a country with good human welfare will attract local and foreign investment.

He said: “We wish Bola Tinubu long life; prosperity and an increase in godly wisdom in sound health.”

APC candidate unstoppable, says AbdulRazaq
Abdulrazaq said Tinubu will win the poll, adding that nothing, but God can stop Tinubu from winning.

Abdulrazaq said this in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, during a special prayer organised by North Central Agenda for Asiwaju/Shettima (NCAA).

Represented by his Deputy, Kayode Alabi, Abdulrazaq said: “Tinubu is a good man. He is a great man. There is no way you can have that kind of heart that God will not bless you.

“Asiwaju Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007. How many governors in Nigeria are still relevant as Asiwaju up till now? None. Do you know why? Because he is a good man.

“I told the wife when they came for women rally in support of Asiwaju’s presidential ambition last year that her husband’s victory is a done deal. I told her that ‘God has blessed your husband.’

“I am saying it again now that nothing can stop Asiwaju from winning the February 25 presidential election except God. And I know for certain that God will not stop a good man. Nobody is perfect. Everyone of us here is not perfect. Only God is perfect. Don’t talk about his imperfections.

“Once he wins the election, we will also win the March 11 governorship/ House of Assembly election. It is will have bandwagon effect.

“I urge you all to vote for Tinubu, National Assembly candidates, Governor Abdulrazaq and House of Assembly candidates so that I will be deputy governor for another for years.”

SWAGA Chairman Senator Dayo Adeyeye said Nigeria needed Tinubu’s services in this time of emergency.

He said: “In times of difficulty in the life of a nation is when the services and intellect of a great leader are needed. The great leader will turn the situation around.

This is actually the time we need Asiwaju. When things are rosy; when things are good; when the economy is doing fine, you may afford not to have a fantastic leader.

“But in times of difficulty, when the nation is sickly, when things are bad and when hope is lost, you need a leader like Tinubu to bring the country out of debts and take the country to higher level. This is the time we need Tinubu to steer the ship of state to a safe harbour.”