Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised to make the southern part of Nigeria an industrial hub when elected president.

He made this promise during the APC presidential campaign rally which took place on Wednesday at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu State.

Tinubu also promised to develop the region’s mineral resources deposit to propel economic recovery.

According to him, “If you elect me as your president, we will work together. We will create an industrial hub in Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, and Anambra States.

“We will also create two seaports in Port Harcourt and establish an engine fabricating plant, which will create jobs for the youths and all of you.

Tinubu urged the southeasterners to believe in and work with him for his success in the presidential poll.

“My people of Enugu State, nothing is impossible unless you don’t put your mind to it; together, nothing can stop us if we are determined,” he said.

He further advised them not to fold their hand and expect foreigners to develop the region.

“Don’t wait for the white man to do this job for us. We’re brilliant enough, we’re great thinkers, we can fabricate, we can develop and we can mold; we can build engines and we can turn our coal into a lucrative industry.

“In Britain and America, they are still using their coal to fire turbines and generate electricity for their industries. We have the right skills to do so.

“Be bold Nigeria. Wake up, Africa. Let’s use what we have to develop our country. Let’s turn our coal into money. Let’s turn our gas into money,” he said.

Tinubu also bragged about the achievement of the APC, saying: “Today, APC has fulfilled what PDP could not do in 16 years for the Southeast. In 2001, they came here to do foundation laying for the Second Niger Bridge but eventually did not do any.

“They still went back when they were seeking votes. Yet, they did nothing. It was the APC government that came, promised, and completed that bridge. It will soon be commissioned and the era of staying three days on the road during the festive seasons will be a thing of the past. I’m sure your joy will know no bounds.”

He also alleged that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deceived and abandoned Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential Candidate, who is also from the Southeastern region.

“For 16 years, they (PDP) didn’t do anything for Southeast. They misappropriated the monies meant for projects and accused themselves. You know who I’m talking about. Obasanjo and Atiku. That’s the reason for their unending quarrel. Don’t believe them anymore. They have been fooling you for a long time,” he said.

Tinubu commended members of the APC in Enugu State for respecting and renewing the hope of the party and Nigeria, assuring them that they would not be left behind if they continued to support him to victory.

He further assured them that he would work with Uche Nnaji, the governorship candidate of the party in Enugu, saying, “It is only when you vote for me and make him the governor, we will share in the larger gain of Nigeria’s success

Tinubu urged the people of Enugu State to endeavor to get their permanent voter’s card to participate in the election and change the course of the nation’s future.

“Don’t throw away your votes. Shine your eyes, beat your chest, sacrifice in the sun, be in the rain. Get your PVC because it is your way to success, freedom, and prosperity. It is only when you invest that you can harvest”, he said.

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma in his speech told the people of Enugu State that Ndigbo would be more relevant again during Tinubu’s presidency and urged them to be part of his victory.

“Our visit to Enugu is very significant in the sense that there’s a global revolution politically. Over the years, we’ve done politics the way we thought was the best way of politics with little or no research and strong idea. We just followed without any results.

“But after the 2015 election and what came out of it and with the events of these past seven and half years, it became very clear that there is a need for Ndigbo to renew their hope.

“We looked the isolation politics as a primitive way of politics. We need politics that will give us results. We need politics that will take care of the elites and the masses, particularly the masses.

“We need leaders who are compassionate and who will not only think for the elites but the masses.

“It is of cardinal necessity for Ndigbo and indeed, Nigerians to embark on proper reintegration of national politics to be part of national cohesion and become participants of national politics.

“It is not about whether you have been a leader for 20 years or not it is about being the richest man from the Southeast because I’m convinced that what the richest man can do for a community in 200 years, the federal government can do the same in seconds.

“What is important for our people is that there must be a time in our lives when we must confront our challenges head-on.

“Therefore, we must have leaders who will be able to find the courage to face their brothers and sisters to tell them the home truth.

“The truth of the matter today is that we have been used enough. We have to be solvent politically.

“So, our entry into APC with the incremental understanding and awareness politically will give us the revolution we need. I have looked at all the indices that will make us become relevant in Nigeria. Let us be our brother’s keepers. Let us love ourselves and develop a sense of patriotism and nationalism. We have no other country we can call our own.

“The Southeast will be judged by the number of votes they will contribute to the kitty. We cannot become shareholders of a country we have not purchase shares from.

“This is the time for all of us to recognize that there is a common challenge – the challenge of being called true Nigerians.

“Today, from the Southern Nigeria, we have one of our best and brightest emerging as the candidate of the ruling party. A ruling party is a vehicle whose tyres are strong. You don’t need to push it to move. Am I going to come down from the vehicle that has tyres and enter the vehicle that has no tyres even if you push, it may not move.

“Ndigbo must forgive the past, forgive themselves, leave the bush and see the road. We cannot be more intelligent than the entire population.

“We’re interested in partnerships that are genuine.

“As the coordinator of the APC presidential campaign council in the Southeast, I will take responsibility for my actions and in actions.

“We will measure leaders by the number of votes you are able to give to us by February. You are not a leader if you don’t win your polling unit. So, we need to win and for us to win, leaders should go home and talk to the voters.

“We are here to campaign for you to get us 100 percent of the votes. We must win. We have the people, we have the means and we have the contact”.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, in his speech noted that Southeast would surprise Nigerians with their votes for APC and Tinubu.

He expressed happiness at the level of mobilisation of the crowd, urging them to work even harder to reintegrate Igbos into the centre “so that we can boldly go to Jagaban when he wins.

“Time has gone when we used to lag behind. APC gave us Second Niger Bridge

“Anyone doing permutation and saying that APC will not win in the Southeast is living in the past.

“But, after the election, Southeast will be declared the wisest region in Nigeria. We will use our votes to surprise the entire nation. No more crying of marginalisation.

“We are not looking for 60 percent. The least we can ask for is 90 percent.

The APC gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State, Chief Uche Nnaji said that they were determined to get more than 30% votes for APC presidential candidate in Enugu State.

“That’s the promise I’m giving Asiwaju Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodimma. We’re on a rescue mission which will rescue Enugu from the political and economic quagmire Enugu State has been entangled in over the years,” said Nnaji.

Nnaji assured Tinubu that “the crowd you are seeing here is not a rented crowd. The people you are seeing here are members of APC in the state. If the people here are 200,000 , they are registered members of our party.”

The rally attracted other dignitaries such as former Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Azubuike Onyeabor Ihejirika (rtd), Senators Godswill Akpabio, Andy Uba, former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole, Dimeji Bankole, Chief Emma Eneukwu, Chief Gbazue Agu Nweke Gbazue Agu (GNG).
Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Senator Kashim Imam; APC presidential aspirant, Mr. Nick Jackrich; Hon. Nkeiru Onyejiocha; governorship candidates of the party in Abia, Ikechi Emenike and his Ebonyi counterpart, Rt. Hon.Nwifuru, former deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke among others.