President Bola Tinubu on Saturday accused the opposition of creating hunger and poverty in Nigeria, pushing back against criticism of his administration’s handling of the economy as he launched his campaign for a second term in office.
Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 presidential campaign flag-off at the Kaduna Township Stadium, Tinubu said his government was working to eradicate the hardship blamed on the opposition.
He also promised supporters prosperity if re-elected, assuring them that they would not regret giving him a second term.
“You gave me joy to remember the victory you gave me to become president. I come again to thank you for that, to seek your mandate for the second term, to keep a promise on prosperity, continuity and progress. I have an argument, I hear my opponents talking about hunger and poverty. Who created it? They did! They created hunger, they created poverty, we are trying to eradicate it,” he said.
“We pay salaries regularly, our governors are working, I am proud of them, they are developing. To you, the children of our country, it’s a promise of a second term – prosperity; you will not regret going to the votes.”
The removal of fuel subsidy has also emerged as a major issue ahead of the 2027 election, with some opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, promising to restore it if elected.
However, Tinubu defended the policy at the Kaduna rally, urging supporters to be wary of what he described as misleading claims by his opponents.
“Be careful; watch them. Don’t let them lie to you. What is past is in the past. Fuel subsidy is in our past: no more corruption, no more falsification of invoices, no more lies, no more smuggling of fuel,” he said.
Also speaking at the campaign flag-off, Vice President Kashim Shettima said Tinubu had consistently supported northern political leaders over the years.
Shettima cited Tinubu’s backing of Atiku Abubakar in 2007, Nuhu Ribadu in 2011 and former President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 and 2019 elections.
“President Bola Tinubu is one person who has fiercely identified with the north over the years. It is pertinent to mention that when former vice-president Atiku Abubakar was harassed and chased off the PDP with his tail between his legs, he ran to the lion of Bourdillon who gave him political succour, support and a platform to contest for the presidency of this country in 2007. In 2011, Asiwaju supported another northerner, Nuhu Ribadu, and in 2015 and 2019, he supported our late president Muhammadu Buhari,” Shettima said.
The host governor, Uba Sani, also urged APC supporters to remain vigilant, alleging that opposition parties had expanded their campaign tactics from social media platforms to the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
“The opposition have now upgraded their campaign from Facebook and Twitter to AI. I want to call the attention of our supporters to be very watchful, to be vigilant,” he said.
Other party stalwarts at the event included the Director-General of the campaign, Senator Abdulaziz Yari; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Works Dave Umahi; First Lady Remi Tinubu; APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda; and governors from the North-West, among others.
Crowds of APC supporters, dressed in different uniforms and wearing customised hats while waving party flags, filled the stadium and cheered the speakers throughout the event.
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