Tinubu in Zamfara: I’ll continue to be Buhari’s supporter, friend

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has dismissed any insinuation of friction in his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, saying his support for the President is unalloyed and enduring.

Tinubu said: “I have supported President Buhari even before his first day in office. I will continue to be his supporter and friend after his last day in office.”

The APC presidential candidate said this at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital on Saturday.

The former governor of Lagos State stated that President Buhari is leading the nation with courage and selflessness, adding: “He tackled the problems other leaders ran from. He has earned a place in history that cannot be denied.

“I have said this before and will say it again now: when the true history of this moment is written, President Buhari shall be treated very kindly because of his contributions to the nation.”

Tinubu, who took a jab at politicians in the opposition parties, described them as misguided politicians who don’t want greatness to happen or last in the country.

“Their vision for Nigeria is the vision of one who cannot see. They seek to enrich themselves by making you poor. They want to eat everything so that you might go hungry. They want to own everything but leave you with nothing.

“We stand here today to affirm that our vision for a greater Nigeria will triumph over their blind vision for a broken Nigeria. Remember, where there is blind vision, there is also blind ambition.

“We will not allow their selfish games to overtake you. President Buhari has done his part to free Nigeria from their mean grip. Now we must do our part by freeing you from the selfish plans they have for you and our beloved land.

“Do not let those others fool you into returning to the past where you had no hope and had no say regarding the life you shall live and the future you shall enter. The APC remains the best and only hope for a more prosperous and peaceful nation,” Tinubu added.

The APC presidential standard bearer further promised to tackle problems bedevilling Zamfara State and enhance agricultural productivity.

Tinubu said he is conscious of the challenges faced by the people of Zamfara State, noting that he has plans to ameliorate them.

He said President Buhari and Governor Bello Matawalle have been doing their best to end the banditry problem, pledging to consolidate on the gains recorded.

“If Allah blesses us to win this election, we will not relent until we beat this problem.

“My running mate has battled Boko Haram. As governor of Lagos, I too have fought kidnappers and violent criminals. We will use our experience and our vision to defeat the wrongdoers.

“My security plan will empower all branches of security forces. There will be more personnel and we shall improve their ability to identify, pursue and stop the evil-doers. We will use modern air and ground technology to trace and capture these criminals,” Tinuhu said.

The former governor also promised to turn around the agricultural fortunes of the state and develop other natural resources discovered in the state.

Others at the rally were Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai; Senator Aliyu Wamakko from Sokoto State; former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd); and APC National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu; among others.

The Star