Nigerian farmers promise 17m votes for Tinubu

.As Jagaban vows to return Osun to APC, solve Nigeria’s problems

Blessing Akorowosi, Osogbo

Alhaji Abubakar Bello, Director, Agro Commodities Directorate, All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) says Nigerian farmers have promised to deliver 17 million votes to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 general election.
Bello said this on Thursday in Abuja at a National Farmers Stakeholders Summit organised by the directorate for farmers from across the federation.
He said the directorate comprised over 100 recognised commodity associations cutting across agricultural production, manufacturing, processing and marketing of food and cash crops among others.
Bello said it also included all other support structures such as fertiliser, agro chemicals, packaging and transportation.

“Representatives of these structures are in this venue today to affirm their support to the APC Tinubu/ Shetima presidential ticket.

“And on their behalf, I wish to inform this gathering that they have all been working hard since the inauguration of the directorate in November 2022.

“The aim is to deliver at least 17 million votes to the APC presidential candidate during the upcoming presidential election slated for Feb. 25,”he said.

He said that the country`s agricultural sector had seen consistent in terms of holistic development since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in 2015 through value chains.

This, he said, included the formulation of appropriate policies which had led to the provision of prerequisite infrastructure that had the potential to uplift the sector sustainably in the years ahead.

He said the country was at the stage of producing and processing what it needed in food crops and was gearing for export of cash and tree crops, tubers, livestock and fisheries.

Bello said that such favourable policies ensured investments in the construction of vital futuristic structures such as the Lekki deep seaport in Lagos and the dry port in Kano and Kaduna among others.

“The agro commodities groups had to ensure full support and ensure we mobilise our teaming members to usher in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the only government that will not only continue with these successes.

“But has the capacity, ability, vision and doggedness to double the speed at which the sector transformed in order to cater for the projected massive population leap in the coming years.

“We cannot afford to allow in a clueless government that had already promised to open the national borders and take us back to the era of massive food and weapons import.
“If allowed to happen, our over 70 newly established integrated rice mills and other agricultural investments would become moribund while most youths would become unemployed,” he said.
Bello said the summit intended to review work done in the agricultural sector and to lay solid plans for transition for the incoming government.

He added that it was also to strategise on how to get massive votes from the farmers and agro commodity groups for Tinubu to become the country`s next president.

“We have all what it takes to fulfill our mandate and we shall deliver this mandate by the grace of God,’’ he said.

Mr Retson Tedheke, the Secretary of the directorate, said given the right incentives, Nigerian famers could build the country like the case before the advent of oil exploration.

He said the summit was to bring together farmers who were especially involved in the cassava and maize cultivation in the country to brainstorm and analise Tinubu`s action plan on agriculture.

He expressed optimism that Tinubu`s action plan on agriculture would elevate Nigerian farmers if implemented.

Also,The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured that if elected, Nigeria will be great again.

This is as he expressed confidence that Osun State will be back in the hands of APC.

Addressing mammoth supporters of the party on Thursday, at Freedom park, Osogbo, Osun State, Tinubu said he is ready to solve Nigerians’ problems.

“We will establish companies, we will have registration centers for those who went to university, we will establish vocational centers for those who want to learn craft. You are not sent to school suffer and waste away, you will become great.

“All the youths searching for job will get a job. I want to assure you that whoever want to learn a craft will do so conveniently. We will establish companies for our children who couldn’t gain admission.

“For those who are in school, call me bastard if you spend more than four years. You will use four years to finish your studies. We will lend those who are not financially capable money. Whatever your school fees is, we will pay it. No child of the poor will be left out. We are all equal,” he said.

The presidential candidate further said the party is ready to continue the fight for power in Osun as started at the Tribunal.

He said, “They were tested with little thing,not considering that, he is dancing about but they are hacking people of the state with cutlasses and causing violence in the state.

“This is not the first time that we will fight for our right in court. We spend more than 3 years to fight for Rauf Aregbesola and we won. They came in through the back door, we call the police but they claimed that they borrowed it, please go and drop it before things boomerang.”

Former Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola appreciated the party loyalists and members for their support so far and urged them to keep their hope high for victory.

Amongst the political bigwigs present at the APC presidential rally were; Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Governor of Kano State, Umar Ganduje; Former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare; Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.