The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). has unveiled of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) in the State House, Abuja. This is as party faithful occupied the entrance to the Banquet Hall location manned by men of the Department of State Service in the Presidential Villa.

 

The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, in his welcome address, said with the formal inauguration of the PCC, the party was set to crush all opposition on the way to its victory during the election next year.

 

President Buhari also unveiled the action plan for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

 

Buhari said Nigeria is safer in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He stated this on Friday while inaugurating the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and unveiling the manifesto of its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in Abuja.

 

The 80-page action plan titled; “Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a Better Nigeria” will focus on national security, economy, agriculture, Power, oil and gas, transportation and education.

 

Other areas include; healthcare, digital economy, women empowerment, judicial reform, federalism/decentralisation of power and foreign policy.

 

While charging members of the ruling party to ensure the victory of the APC in 2023, Mr Buhari said “We must record a sound victory in all elections, the future of this country is safer in the hands of the APC.”

 

The president added that the transition to another APC government is as vital as the 2015 election that ushered the party into power.

 

He also commended the other presidential aspirants that contested the presidential primary election against Mr Tinubu in June.

 

“I would like to congratulate the other contestants. I am glad that most of our aspirants transferred their structures, including campaign offices to our party’s candidate after the primaries,” he said.

 

In his speech, Mr Tinubu said his manifesto is a promise that can be banked on.

 

He assured Mr Buhari that he would be proud of the work to be done after him.

He stated that his administration will ensure the construction of the Trans-Sahara pipeline to Europe and compete with Russia for the European market.

 

“We are sure that we can make realisable the Cross-Sahara pipeline to bring our gas to Europe and compete with Russia and be better,” he said.

 

Mr Tinubu dismissed the concerns on the borrowing by this administration, stating that if borrowing were to be a crime, the United States would be in jail.

 

“I stand before you noting that those who are afraid of the budget they—talk of borrowing, if borrowing were to be a crime, the entire America should be in jail.

 

“If borrowing is a crime, stop using Mercedes Benz and Lexus. General Buhari, we are with you. You are leading the way and charting the course. We are saying that the renewed hope of this country will be for real. You will look back and be proud of what you built and left behind you,” he said.

 

The Director General of the PCC, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, said the time of some persons staying in Abuja and leaving work undone at the grassroots is over.

 

He said PCC will use the record of results to allocate rewards for members.

 

“We can easily track the record played by each member in the campaign process and at the end of the day, we can conveniently address any challenges and even reward excellence while harvesting maximum votes.

 

“For the PCC, the days of the people flying letters in Abuja while work suffers at the grassroots is over. We are all aware of the enormous task before us in ensuring that Asiwaju becomes the next president. The PCC will not take anything to chance,” he said.

 

With the unveiling of the manifesto, the party is expected to commence campaigns across the country.

 

Among those at the event were the APC vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, governors led by their chairman, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, members of the PCC and NWC.

 

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According to Tinubu’s campaign spokes man, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, the APC presidential candidate promises that his administration will focus on the massive and unprecedented fourth industrial revolution by helping the youth to be transformed from job seekers to job providers.

He also disclosed that Mr Tinubu would ensure huge investment in sports entertainment and culture, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, to expand jobs and opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths.

 

On security, in the Forward of the document, Mr Tinubu commended the current administration for laying a foundation in the security sector.

 

He added that he will reform the police to free officers from extraneous duties such as VIP security and guard duties.

 

“Police reform will be focused on positioning the institution to better deliver on its primary duties of community policing and maintaining law and order through crime fighting and prevention.

 

“Police personnel will be freed from extraneous duties such as VIP security and guard duties. VIP Security and provision of security for government buildings, installations and other critical assets will be transferred to The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The NSCDC shall be evaluated and reformed to be better integrated with our internal security apparatus,” the document said.

 

The former Lagos State governor also promised to continue and expand the massive Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration.

 

Mr Tinubu explained that his plans were conceived after travelling the length and breadth of the country and listening to people from different life strata.

 

“Our nation’s history affirms that our people constitute our most valuable treasure. Whether the hardworking farmer, the industrious market woman, the dynamic young entrepreneur or the hopeful child, Nigerian people rank among the best anywhere. They excel in every aspect of human endeavour when given a fair chance.

 

“Senator Shettima and I have traversed every part of our beloved nation, listening to the concerns of our fellow citizens. Young and old, poor and rich, educated and uneducated, Christian and Muslim; all have expressed their views and concerns.

 

“People do not seek superficial answers to hard questions. Nor do they want the broken, unimaginative, failed promises repackaged and fed to them again. They want true and innovative solutions which address the challenging realities of today,” he said.

 

Several Inspector Generals of Police have issued orders withdrawing police from VIP duties, however, the directives have failed to stop the menace.

 

Buhari said: ” It would be disastrous to allow a situation that will lead to the reversal of the progress our country has made. Let me add that i joyfully accept the position of the chairman of campaign council we are unveiling today.

 

“Our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is too well known for his capacity and can-do spirit. He stands tall in his track records as a democrat, a champion of the rule of law, a man at home in every part of our country, and a truly visionary leader.

 

“I, therefore, want to assure all party members and supporters of our government that I will be at the forefront of this campaign.

 

“This election is even more important than the election of 2015 that brought us into power. The costs of losing the gains our country has made is much more than the need to stop the haemorrhage that led to our coming together nearly nine years ago.”

 

The Manifesto Summary

Tinubu’s Presidential Manifesto released, makes 10 major promises to Nigerians

Below are 10 major promises he made to Nigerians.

1. Build a Nigeria, especially for our youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life.

2. Manufacture, create, and invent more of the goods and services we require. Nigeria shall be known as a nation of creators, not just of consumers.

3. Export more and import less, strengthening both the naira and our way of life.

4. Continue assisting our ever-toiling farmers, through enlightened agricultural policy that promotes productivity and assures decent incomes, so that farmers can support their families and feed the nation.

5. Modernise and expand public infrastructure so that the rest of the economy can grow at an optimal rate.

6. Embolden and support our young people and women by harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment and culture, tourism and others to build the Nigeria of tomorrow, today.

7. Train and give economic opportunity to the poorest and most vulnerable among us. We seek a Nigeria where no parent is compelled to send a child to bed hungry, worried whether tomorrow shall bring food.

8. Generate, transmit and distribute sufficient, affordable electricity to give our people the requisite power to enlighten their lives, their homes, and their very dreams.

9. Make basic healthcare, education, and housing accessible and affordable for all.

10. And, most importantly, establish a bold and assertive policy that will create a strong yet adaptive national security architecture and action to obliterate terror, kidnapping, banditry, and all other forms of violent extremism from the face of our nation.