The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared his total devotion to the service of the country, stating that he will not be a part-time president.
GoldenNewsNg reports that Speaking during an interactive session with the popular Tijjaniyya sect in Kano State on Sunday, the APC flagbearer promised to devote 100% of his time and energy to address and surmount the problem plaguing the people.
In what appears a jab at Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former Lagos State governor said he will not be sharing his time between Nigeria and Dubai.
APC Governors that graced the session included Chairman Progressives Governors’ Forum & Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), former APC Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and some of the party’s National Working Committee members.
At the meeting, members of the Tijjaniyyah sect led by the leader, Sheikh Bashir Tijjani Usman Zangon Bareebah, presented a long list of issues the sect wants the APC Presidential candidate to address when he gets to the office.
Top on the list is improved electricity, full security, giving agriculture full attention including provision and completion of dams and improved quality education for Nigerians.
While giving their full endorsement and support to the APC presidential ambition, the sect demanded that the Tinubu presidency should ensure the inclusion of their members in cabinet and other government appointments, reduction in Hajj fares and assistance in concluding Tijjaniyyah University under construction in Kano.
In his response, Tinubu said the answers to some of the demands contained in his manifesto unfolded to the whole world on Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that he is running to be the president because of his commitment to better the lives of all Nigerians.
In a related development, the APC Presidential candidate also met with business leaders from Northern Nigeria Saturday night in Kano where he assured the business community of a better business environment through the implementation of well-thought-out policies that will revive dead and ailing manufacturing companies in Kano and across the country.
At a forum to share insights with the Northern business community, business leaders and captains of industry from across the North openly endorsed the APC presidential candidate and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
At a forum attended by the APC National Chairman, Senator Adamu Abdullahi, Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Shettima, Governor Ganduje of Kano and seven other governors, the business leaders said with his private sector background, Asíwájú Tinubu would drive the nation’s economy well.
Governor Ganduje said Kano and Lagos have always maintained a long-standing relationship which will be strengthened under Tinubu whom he labelled a Kano man.
Ganduje said as governor of Lagos State, Asíwájú ran a pan-Nigeria cabinet that grew the state in all indices of governance and economy.
While assuring the northern business leaders of a better business environment with well-thought-out policies that will revitalise industries and open up new opportunities, Tinubu identified the link between Kano as a centre of commerce and his economic plan for Nigeria.
He said: “There is a strong nexus between the place of Kano as a centre of prosperity and my plan for Nigeria. What I pledge is a revamped economy which will renew the hope of our people. Our country needs multiple centres of prosperity, and we intend to achieve that by adding value across all sectors of our economy.
“As I said during my speech at the Arewa House on Monday, Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine. There is no state in Nigeria that is lacking in one resource or the other. We are determined to explore and exploit these resources to the maximum benefit of our people. Kano, for example, has huge agricultural potential and important mineral resources underneath its ground like gold, silver, nickel, tin ore and columbite. Each of these, if properly harnessed, can add significantly to our economy as a country.
The APC flagbearer added that Kano’s arable land and its comparative advantage in agriculture will be further expanded to make the state and northern region industrial hubs in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The state’s vast arable land and other agricultural potentials, if added to its population will make Kano a force to reckon with in the sub-Saharan African agro-market. Those who listen to my speech in Kaduna would have heard about my plan for agriculture.
“Aside from working with the private sector to make input available that would guarantee greater yield, among other incentives, we will ensure all categories of farmers have easy access to finance through appropriate government and private sector initiatives.
“We have seen the wonders from the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme, and the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative. We will consolidate those gains.
“Kano’s famous dams such as Tiga, Chalawa Gorge, Thomas, Kusalla, etc that are not being maximally tapped will get special attention from my government. We will invest in the expansion of irrigation land, and channelization of the water, among other initiatives that will ensure we cultivate these lands all year round.
“We will not stop investing and boosting our agricultural potentials, we will add value throughout the value chain.
