Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress, promised the residents of Edo State that he would ensure the development of the state’s gas reserves in order to generate income for Nigeria and prosperity for the state’s residents.
At the town hall gathering in Benin on Sunday, Tinubu addressed APC stakeholders as well as various trade associations and civil society organizations.
According to him, Nigeria will compete with Russia by pipelining gas to Europe.
He asked the residents of Edo State to unite around a common goal in order to retake their state from the Peoples Democratic Party.
He assured the people of Edo State that he would be a president who would listen to them.
“Edo, take your state back. First of all let us forge unity. Let’s find the way where they say there is no way.
“We must rescue Edo State. I am ready to work with you. Take lantern, go from house to house. Don’t get angry. Anger does not solve problems. Disappointment is an energiser for me. You Disappoint me, I work harder. You betray me, I don’t get angry, I ignore you.
“The reason is because you are not my God and you are not my creator. My mother taught me if you are sad, I will share your sorrow with you, if you are happy I will rejoice with you. If you are poor I will share the little I have with you”.
He charged the Edo State people not to vote for PDP and Atiku Abubakar because the opposition party is not organised and can’t solve problems of the country.
“You see PDP. They are scattered, they don’t know the road. Atiku does not know how to lie again except falsifying lie upon lie. Atiku cannot hold serious job for Nigeria. When they were privatising Aluminium Smelter Company at Ikot Abasi and privatising NITEL, I was negotiating Free Trade Zone in China. I negotiated Lekki Deep Seaport in Singapore and it is Deepest Sea Port now in West Africa. Edo people are extremely smart. You can do the job.
“Count on me at the federal level. I will be your listening President. Vote for me. Prosperity is here. When you put down ballot paper in the box say it is for creating job. I will create jobs for you because you are not lazy,” Buhari said.
“People who can’t give power to Nigeria say they want to come back. In only 8 years, APC put rail back. We are putting Refineries back and we will produce for you. They can abuse Buhari from morning till night, he does not hear their abuse. Abuse him, rail he provided, second Niger Bridge he provided, Lagos-Ibadan expressway he provided. Benin-Ore Port will be done so that you don’t need to come to Lagos to clear your goods.
“Nigeria will make money because Edo has largest deposits of gas. We will make money for Nigeria. There will be long term money for long term projects. We will develop our gas and ship it to Europe and compete with Russia. I am one of the smartest assets of Nigeria.”
The former governor of Lagos State continued from his planned statement during the town hall gathering by stating that his administration will expand Nigeria’s industrial base in order to create respectable jobs and raise wages for Nigerians.
“We must now begin to make use of all our nation’s endowments. Greater industrialisation is a vital aspect of this. Through the production of more and better goods we shall improve our standard of living, provide workers with a living wage and establish businesses that will drive our national economy for generations.”
The APC candidate believes that widespread industrialization will result in economic prosperity spreading throughout the entire nation.
He said, “Our industrial plan shall encourage the establishment of new manufacturing concerns across the country. We see a future in which Nigeria is known as a nation that produces high quality goods worthy of export to anywhere in the world.
“To achieve this vision, we shall use an array of policy measures. On the fiscal side, we shall employ tax credits and holidays, youth employment incentives, export credits and well-tailored subsidies where necessary. On the monetary side, we will work with the banking sector to channel low interest loans to the manufacturing sector.
“We will spark a consumer credit revolution where affordable credit is available so people can purchase cars, homes and appliances without carrying the burden of paying for such costly items all at once.
“Our policies will afford local artisans and craftsmen throughout the nation the necessary tools to provide for their families and, ultimately, boost overall economic activity for the national good.”
Those at the town hall meeting include Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Nuhu Ribadu, Professor Osunbor, Edo State APC Governorship candidate in last state election, Pastor Ize Iyamu, Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo and many other party leaders from Edo State.
