Tinubu in Bauchi: I’ll make farming profitable, create wealth

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has promised to consolidate on recent gains to foster prosperity across the country.

Tinubu said his administration, if elected as president in the next month’s general election, would create wealth through value addition in Nigeria’s economy.

He also vowed to make farming profitable, adding that his administration would explore all available resources that could help resolve the country’s development challenges.

The APC presidential standard-bearer made the promise at the party’s campaign rally held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi State on Monday.

Speaking at the rally which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu said: “Mr President, you have showed them that our party is a party of thinkers and doers; people who can find a way where there is none. We thank you for that.

“And it is this spirit of finding way in the middle of nowhere, of drawing water from dried wells that we seek to consolidate when we succeed in getting the mandate of Nigerians.

“At a time of dwindling revenues and global economic crises, we need to explore all available resources that could help resolve our development challenges. It is for this reason that projects like Kolmani and AKK gas pipeline started by the Buhari administration will be accelerated under my leadership.

“We will create wealth through value addition across all the major planks of our economy. We will make farming profitable and support agro-allied industries that will help us process what we produce, instead of just selling raw produce. We will bring forth prosperity, insha Allah!”

Tinubu also promised to prioritise security in order to engender the right environment for business to thrive in the country.

“Our security forces will be adequately empowered to respond to residual challenges we are facing. You will have the peaceful environment you require to engage in productive enterprise.

“My dear people of Bauchi State, I urge you to offer me the same support you have always accorded our party, the APC, and even more. You have always loved President Buhari and his party. I count on you to victory,” he added.

Also addressing the APC supporters, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, hailed President Buhari for discharging himself creditably and making the party proud.

Lawan said the outpouring of people indicated the appreciation of the North-East to Buhari’s administration for liberating them from the menace of Boko Haram and other benefits brought to the people.

“PDP abandoned the North-East to Boko Haram. They left us in their hands to kill us, at a point when we complained they blamed us for it. But when you came, you liberated our people, you changed the story.

“It is incumbent upon us to continue to do what is expected of us by voting for the APC in appreciation of the benefits our people got from your leadership,” the Senate President stated.

Others at the rally were the APC’s vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim Shettima; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Governors Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), among others.

The Star