President Muhammadu Buhari has declared the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as his successor by the grace of God.
President Buhari stated this Tuesday in Owerri, Imo state, during the presidential campaign of the party at Dan Anyiam Stadium.
In a short message to residents and party supporters, Buhari said: “I am here to thank you for coming out en masse no matter the hot weather to show solidarity and make sure that our presidential candidate is delivered as the next president of Nigeria. God willing Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be delivered as the next president of Nigeria. I want to say thank you.”
Speaking earlier, Tinubu said: “I am with the most focused, most dynamic party in Africa, the APC. Today, we came with love, stability, and progress. We came to assure you of the unbroken hope and to break the shackles of poverty. We came with our leader who has been on the path of the truth.
“Since the last eight years, as the years of retooling of the neglected foundation which the other party neglected. They shared the booty of electric transmission and distribution which should have been strengthened to serve the people but they want to come back and tell us lies again.
“The development programme of APC will be sustained. It will not stop. So, as part of our plans, we will make Imo state a state home of tourism, we will add value to the real estate, and reconstruct the roads and beauty of the state.
“The incorruptible attitude of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue. We are going prudently and increasing your revenue generation. We will work to eradicate the state of inhumanity and crimes from the state.”
Also speaking, a former governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole, who represented the Director General of the APC campaign, Solomon Lalong, said: “As I am here today, believe to do two things, one to join the people of Imo state to show solidarity to vote for our presidential candidate.
“Another one, some years after this state was hopeless and we supported Hope Uzodimma to bring hope to Imo people. He has brought hope and democratic governance to the Imo people and brought an end to family governance. He has brought true leadership.”
Also adding his voice, Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwolu said: “Ndigbo in Lagos are with Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is why I am here to show the same solidarity to our candidate. We want to thank our leader of the Party, President Muhammadu Buhari, for joining us in all regional campaigns.”
In his own remarks, Ebonyi state Governor Dave Umahi told Buhari and the presidential candidate that “the South East region has shut down for him; Imo people have shown they love the APC, presidential candidate. There is nothing we the governors asked you and you refused. We thank you for what you are doing for Igbo.
“We thank you. Me and my brother, Uzodimma, I must play in the centre. We will work together to salvage the Southeast zone.”
In his speech, Imo state Governor Hope Uzodimma lauded President Buhari, saying “Imo and Lagos states are in the competition of who will bring the highest votes. The people of Imo asked me to tell you to thank you for what you are doing for them.
“You supported us to construct Owerri-Orlu, Owerri-Okigwe and the Owerri-Umuahia roads among others. You granted all our requests. When crude oil theft became a challenge you granted us the establishment of a navy base. This is a payback time. Today being lovers’ day, we will show you love. Imo is an APC state. We will never disappoint you.”
APC has a lot to showcase for reelection – Lai
And with less than two weeks to the 2023 presidential election, the APC- led federal government said it has more than enough achievements to present to the electorate for a reelection.
Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said this Tuesday while presenting his ministry’s achievements at the 26th edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the APC presidential candidate in the election slated for February 25.
Speaking at the event, the minister said 25 out of 28 ministers who featured on the platform, presented their scorecards to Nigerians.
“The refrain from the opposition, prior to the launch of this Scorecard Series, was that the APC and the Buhari Administration have nothing to campaign with in the run-up to the 2023 general elections. But we have proven them wrong. Not only do we have achievements to campaign with, we are spoilt for choice.
“In the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, this Administration has implemented high-impact projects across the length and breadth of the country that meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
“Recall that we launched the series right here on October 18th 2022 to massively showcase the numerous achievements of the Buhari Administration.
“I am delighted to say that we have achieved our objective of launching the scorecard series, which is to massively showcase the achievements of the Buhari Administration.
“And this is in recognition of the importance of critical infrastructure in economic development and the quest of this Administration to leave a lasting legacy,” Mohammed said.
He further said the initiative of showcasing the achievements of the administration had accomplished its objective, saying, “for us, we can now proudly say: mission accomplished!”
“In the days ahead, and before the elections, you will see more of our multi-dimensional efforts to showcase the Administration’s achievements. We will launch the following: Documentary showcasing in vivid terms the giant strides of the Administration in all spheres of life.
“Testimony Series that provides the platform for ordinary Nigerians to say how they have benefitted from the Administration’s policies and programmes.
“Compendium of the Administration’s achievements; and Legacy Portal that will preserve for posterity all that I have listed above,” the minister also said.
The minister said the biggest achievement of his ministry was the repatriation of hundreds of looted artefacts.
He said: “During the period under review, efforts to repatriate artefacts looted from Nigeria – which we launched Nov. 28th 2019 – paid off handsomely, with a total of 1,130 Benin Bronzes heading home from Germany alone.
“The legal transfer of the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria of all the 1,130 Benin Bronzes in all German public museums was signed on July 7, 2022.
“The physical return has since commenced with the first batch accompanied to Nigeria in December 2022 by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Culture of Germany and an entourage of 80 top government and museums officials.
“Nigeria is currently at the forefront of global efforts on repatriation of antiquities to their countries of origin.”
Mohammed said his ministry also succeeded in repatriating a 600-year-old Ife Terracotta from the Netherlands in October 2020.
