…reaffirms his fitness for the presidential job
The foremost presidential candidate in the country and revered national leader of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed the rationale behind organizing strategic town hall meetings to further his electioneering campaign ahead of the February 25 Presidential elections.
Tinubu who was the first among other candidates to explore town hall meeting as part of his electioneering activities explained it was to complement political rallies and reach every Nigerian.
The former lagos state governor made this known during his interview with Kano Premier Independent Radio Station, Freedom Radio, In Saudi Arabia just before his return to the country.
He added that political rallies have proven not to be enough to ensuring that campaign messages get to the people. According to him: “We are reaching each and every Nigerian. We decided that rallies are not always enough. We need to engage all Nigerians from all parts of the country and across all sectors of our socio-economic life. We have engaged businessmen, farmers, miners, industrialists, entertainers, labour leaders and so on.
“By the engagements we are having, it is clear that we are going to win this election. As the elections are coming closer the signs are clear and that is why our opponents are jittery. They have now resorted to peddling fake news and quoting some of my statements out of context just to score cheap points.
“Recently I was asked about fuel subsidy removal and I said I will ensure we end the wastage and re-channel the money to the people who truly need it. This is one position that almost all the candidates are united about. We all agreed that the subsidy regime is abused and it favours the rich more than the poor. It has to go. I couldn’t have opposed people expressing their own position on this.
“I believe in consultation and guaranteed by democratic values and norms. I respect opinion of people and I would not be party to stifling dissenting views or any legitimate protest. I am a veteran of protests myself. So why should I say people should not embark on well-intentioned protest? There is no excuse for that and there is no abuse of power intended.”
Speaking further, Tinubu used the medium to dismiss unfounded claims about his health saying he is as fit as a fiddle for the rigorous presidential tasks he is gunning for.
He made it known that he performed seven trips in observance of the lesser hajj stressing that no ailing person can do that on their own.
His words: “I just finished performing the Umrah. I did the seven rounds of tawaf and did the seven trips between Safa and Marwa by myself. Can a sick person do that? That is stale news my brother.
“People who are making those insinuations have nothing else to say but lies and rubbish. I have moved round, spoke at different platforms and stood for hours to address different audiences. Before they said I could not walk. They said I could not stand but they are shamed.
“Since the campaign started I have marshalled more original ideas than anyone else. I have demonstrated knowledge, experience and great capacity to be on top of issues in the country. And this job is about ideas and issues regarding leadership of our country. I have all it takes to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I am asking people of the country to have confidence and respect for that, look at my background and my previous assignments. I want to serve the country and serve the country very well.”
While disclosing his Umrah trip as a spiritual rebirth, he stated that the country is in dire need of prayers.
“It is a personal trip. It is a trip for spiritual rebirth. I like coming to perform the Umrah every now and then. It is an opportunity to connect with almighty Allah, Lam ya lid wa lam yulad. We need his guidance. Nigeria is in need of prayers and that is why we are here praying for our country, self and the society.”
Tinubu had since returned to the country. As authoritatively reported by Theliberationnews, he arrived on Sunday Night at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, where he was warmly received by his loyalists and party supporters
