2023: Tinubu Campaigns in Borno, Promises Better Future For Children Orphaned By Boko Haram
APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima were confronted with a never of its kind crowd in Maiduguri when they showed up to campaign for next week’s election.
By Abdulkareem Haruna
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has promised to provide quality education to the thousands of children orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state, when elected in next Saturday’s Feb. 25 election.
Mr. Tinubu who made this promise while addressing electorates at a grand rally in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital and the birthplace of his running mate, Kashim Shettima, also reveals his plans for job creation.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, said he acknowledged the sufferings of the people of Borno and the northeast in general, even as he promised to wipe away their years of tears if elected on Feb.25.
Tinubu was emotionally touched when he saw the breathtaking mammoth crowd that nearly choked the streets and venues of the rally. Those who followed the APC Presidential campaign team testified that the Maiduguri rally was second to none in scale and size in the country.
Tinubu arrived in Maiduguri on Friday night and was received at the airport by Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, vice presidential candidate Kashim Shettima, and many APC stalwarts.
Thanking the crowd for their support APC flag bearer said his administration would invest in the education sector to provide a better future for the orphans of Boko Haram.
“You have faced challenges and difficulties in the past years, and sincerely my heart goes out to you; it is over now,” he said.
The presidential candidate promised to tackle problems confronting the state with special focus on creating jobs to take care of youths.
“We will take care of you, especially the orphans created by the Boko Haram insurgency. You will be taken care of in all aspects; we will provide education; we will invest in agriculture for food security.”
Mr. Tinubu said when elected, his government will revive oil exploration in Lake Chad for job security.
“We will revive Nigeria and secure our land,” he promised.
The APC Presidential Candidate, received by a breathtaking turnout of supporters, arrived at the Elkanemi Sports Complex, the rally venue, at about 3 pm.
He was earlier at the palace of the Shehu of Borno where the foremost monarch, Abubakar Garbai Allamin Elkanemi, beseeched on him to pay attention to issues like resuscitation it the Lake Chad Basin Authority (CBDA) to boost commercial agricultural activities for the people of the state.
Amazed by the significant turnout of supporters, the former Lagos governor said he had nothing to say to show appreciation.
He urged the people to vote for his party in the coming elections.
“By next Saturday, 25 February, you will have to vote. Use your PVC wisely and vote for the one who cares about you. God bless you,” he said.
Borno State APC Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, had earlier, in a welcome address, at the beginning of the rally, assured Tinubu that come Feb. 25, Borno people would vote for APC candidates from top to bottom.
The National Party Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, urged the people to consolidate the gains of the past seven years by voting for the APC.
“The crown we see here gives us more hope that you live out our candidate, Bola Tinubu, and it shows that you all stand by your former governor, our vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima,” he said.
He called on them to turn out en masse to replicate their presence with their votes.
Governor Zulum who spoke in Hausa and Kanuri recalled how the APC led federal government under President Buhari transformed the security situation across Borno State, noting that Tinubu would build on that and make Borno even better.
“Tinubu would uphold the trust the people of Borno would repose in him by electing him president next Saturday”, Zulum said as he expressed gratitude to the people of Borno State for coming out in high numbers.
Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Shettima, also thanked residents and promised better days ahead under a Tinubu presidency.
Mr Shettima said, when the people vote and elect Tinubu as President, the oil exploration along the lake Chad Basin would be reconsidered and ensure its completion.
“The resumption of the oil exploration in the region will not only generate income, but also provide job opportunities to the teaming youths and women in the state and North East sub region.
Governors Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, who spoke, praised residents for the manner they honoured Tinubu.
Mr Badaru said Borno had proved to be a new lead in high turnout during APC’s presidential campaigns.
Mr Mai-Mala said voting for Tinubu is like bringing home better future for Borno and northeast in general, even as he serenade the cheering crowd with a famous campaign song that reminds them that Shettima is their son.
Former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, whose ever-charming presence electrified the crowd to a quaking uproar, called on everyone to vote en mass for Tinubu and Shettima. He reminded the people that but for the help of Tinubu in 2003, Shettima would not have emerge the APC presidential candidate today.
“When I was facing a challenge in court after my victory in 2003, I ran to Tinubu in Lagos and he linked me with respected lawyers who helped to rescue my mandate as Governor,” he recalled.
Sheriff inferred that it was with that secured mandate that he was able to govern Borno during which he brought in Kashim Shettima as his commissioner and later his party’s candidate in 2011.
“So we owe Tinubu all the votes he deserves in Borno so that he can be elected President come February 20, insha Allah,” said the former governor.
Former Governors Maina Ma’aji Lawan and Ali Modu Sheriff, strongly appealed for votes, saying it was pay back time by the people of Borno State for Tinubu’s choice of Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of Senator Kashim Shettima and Borno First Lady, Dr Falmata Babagana Zulum, in separate remarks also thanked residents for high turn out. They appealed for votes during all forthcoming elections.
The rally was also attended Deputy National chairman North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Suke, Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, ETF BOT Chairman, Matawallle Kashim Imam, and former Chiefs of army staff General Abdulrahman Dambazzau and General Tukur Buratai accompanied Mr. Tinubu.
