*Muslim-Muslim ticket protests greets Tinubu/Shettima
*Reps Dep Speaker calms pelting of dignitaries
*party optimistic of retaining presidency
By; BUHARI B. BELLO, Jos
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has flagged off its Presidential Campaign in Jos, with a gloomy situation facing the ruling party ahead the 2023 Polls following protests from some quarters who openly protested against the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the party.
The party however, expressed confidence of winning the forthcoming general elections and retaining power in 2023
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Make Wase had to intervene and talk to the crowd, pleading with them.
“Please you should stop such stoning. Security operatives stop beating the people because we want them,” he appealed.
President Muhammadu Buhari who flagged off the campaign at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium Jos, said that the party will win the 2033 election.
According to him, ” the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Presidential Candidate in a free and fair contest shows that he is an acceptable candidate for the party and Nigerians.”
He urged the party members to work hard and ensure that there is victory at all levels.
National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu said the party has no fear of any political party as it has done well under President Muhammadu Buhari who has turned around the fortunes of the nation in various sectors.
He said Asiwaju will build on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari and ensure that Nigerians are provided with the best opportunities to thrive.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in his remarks, said that serving Nigeria is what he has always done and when elected, he will do more to build the economy, provide jobs, power, security, agricultural production and processing as well as industrial revolution.
He challenged Nigerians to look carefully before they give their votes, saying that some politicians have been making promises without any evidence of performance and experience to show.
He thanked Governor Lalong for leading the campaign as Director General and also hosting the flag-off which he described as successful.
Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong said, “You will recall that Plateau State in the past hosted such high level party events which eventually produced Presidents of Nigeria and other national leaders that played significant roles in the growth and sustenance of our democracy.
“On this occasion, we are at the threshold of making yet another history of producing another President in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who will succeed our beloved President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 by the grace of God”.
He said the flag-off ceremony heralds the nationwide campaigns that will see the party traversing the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to mobilise, galvanise and propagate the Renewed Hope Agenda that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima are bringing to Nigerians.
“Already, there is great excitement and expectation over the prospects of an Asiwaju government which promises to serve the people and carry them along just as Mr. President has done over the years,” he said.
Lalong while assuring that the APC will sweep the elections in Plateau State and across Nigeria, explained that from the strategic engagements and Town Hall meetings held recently with various special interest groups, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the candidate of choice for Nigerians because of his vast experience in tacking problems, ability to listen and gather the best brains to get the job done without ethnic, religious or other sentiments.
“His records in Lagos State speak for themselves and his ability to network and carry along Nigerians of different backgrounds is unequalled,” he added.
Vice Presidential Candidate Senator Kashim Shettima, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Progressives Governors Forum Chairman Atiku Bagudu and other governors in various goodwill messages, assured that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the candidates of the APC will emerge victorious.
They anchored their confidence on what they called the capacity of Asiwaju and the excellent performance of President Muhammadu Buhari.
APC Gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State, Nentawe Yilwatda said hosting the flag-off in Plateau as well as the appointment of Governor Lalong as Director General has affirmed that the state is the home of APC.
