Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, said that he will eliminate the bandits terrorising the North if elected president in 2023.
He also assured that Nigerians will not regret if given the mandate as their president. Addressing thousands of party faithfuls on Tuesday at the flag-off of North-West Presidential campaign rally at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, the former Lagos state governor, promised to prioritise job creation, gainful employment of Nigerian youths and boost agricultural production by establishing a marketing board that will give both farmers and consumers standard prices of agricultural produce.
He expressed gratitude to the mammoth crowd for turning out for the rally and for their loyalty to the APC.
“We thank God Almighty that brought you people here, we thank you for remaining loyal and faithful to our party, you will never regret it.
“In Shaa Allah, all those trouble makers, all those kidnappers, killers who are troubling the security of Kaduna and Northern Nigeria, I assure you, we will eliminate them”, Tinubu said.
He called on the people to vote all the candidates of the APC in the 2023 election.
“May God bless you. God will turn this sunny day to a brighter day and bless you and your children. You will never regret today”, he told the crowd.
The APC Presidential candidate called on Nigerians to ensure that they get their permanent voters card (PVC) and vote the APC during the elections.
“Everyone of you should go home with determination, check your PVC, do not let them deny you your PVC. If you have not collected your PVC, please, in the name of Almighty Allah that gives power, go and collect your PVC.
“Today, the sun is brighter, the sky is clear, we don’t want to talk too much, we want you to go back home in peace, happiness and joy.
“Our hope is here, we will do everything to make you the young ones properly employed.
“We will create jobs. We will establish the marketing board that will give you the right prices, that will give you comfort in your homes and make you a better people.
“May Allah bless you all, thank you very much Kaduna,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, National Chairman of the the APC, Senator Abdulllahi Adamu, said he was overwhelmed by the mass turnout of people to receive Tinubu.
“We are overwhelmed by this flood, not flood of water, but of human beings who have come out to receive our Presidential candidate.
“We have nothing else to say, because you have spoken for us with this large turn out that we have seen.
“I am not surprised though, because when we talk about North, we must talk about Kaduna, “Adamu said.
Also addressing the rally, Director-General of the APC Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Lalong, said Tinubu dared bandits by traveling on Monday in the night to Birnin-Gwari, an area being terrorised by bandits.
According to him, the trip to Birnin Gwari is a sign that Nigeria will be safe under Tinubu.
Tinubu who visited the emir of Birnin Gwari on Monday after arriving Kaduna, donated N50 million to victims of banditry attacks in the area.
Birnin-Gwari, Chikun and Kajuru LGAs in Kaduna Central Senatorial zone as well as some parts of Southern Kaduna Senatorial zone are the worst affected by the deadly activities of bandits terrorising in Kaduna state.
In April, Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike, a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made a similar donation of N200 million to victims of bandits in the state, when he visited the Kaduna on campaign for the presidential primaries.
In attendance at the rally were, Tinubu’s running mate, Kashim Shettima, the host governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Governors Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Aminu Masari of Katsina and Bello Mattawalle of Zamfara.
Also in attendance were; Kaduna state gubernatorial candidate, Senator Uba Sani, Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, among many other dignitaries.
The rally which was attended by party supporters from Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kebbi and Kaduna states, lasted for about an hour.
There was heavy security deployment in parts of Kaduna metropolis, as armed security personnel were deployed to strategic points, following rumours of a planned reprisal attack by a rival political party which was attacked during its rally in November.
Soldiers were seen patrolling Constitution Road in armoured vehicle while combine team of armed soldiers, police, civil defence and various vigilante groups were deployed to the the venue.
