Tinubu-Shettima ticket: Buhari warns APC women to resist temptation of turning Abuja to centric activity of campaign

..As Tinubu tags PDP party of termites

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja and Victory Orimemi

President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the role Nigerian women played in his emergence as the President, even as he solicits their support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 elections.

The President at the inauguration of the Tinubu-Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja Monday also advised the women to connect more with the electorate at the localities rather than making Abuja the centre of their politicking.

President Buhari who was represented at the function by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari said, “The campaign, therefore, should recede the temptation for it to be turned into an Abuja-centric activity but establish the connection between the voting public and our presidential candidate, and for other candidates for offices throughout Nigeria, that should be the ultimate objective.”

While appreciating the female party supporters,  the President said, “I am proud of the exemplary role that the First Lady has played as a strong pillar of support and voice for our women as well as our youth. Her unwavering commitment to mobilizing women significantly influenced our party’s victories in the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections.

 

“These great feats could not have been achieved without the support of women of our party. I will also like to thank the wife of the Vice President, the wives of APC governors, and indeed all our women leaders at all levels for their tireless efforts and support.

 

“It is also very important that I take some time on portraits that give credibility and importance as to why we are gathered here today at the launch of such a critical organ of our party as we look forward to the 2023 general elections.

 

“In the 2015 general elections, about 3.6 million housewives voted in the presidential election. And this figure ranks third next to about 4.4 million students in the 2019 general elections. Women accounted for 47 per cent, almost 40 million of the 84 million registered voters throughout the nation.

“We must continuously co-opt and make a significant inroad into these demographic and voting segments.

“The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently made a projection that Nigeria’s voting population could be as much as 95 million for the 2023 general elections. For statisticians in the room, you can imagine what that means in terms of potential votes that women could bring to the table.

“Counting today, we are left with approximately 137 days before the Presidential and National Assembly elections, which is scheduled for the 25th of February, 2023. Out of the 36 states of the federation, 30 states will be holding their gubernatorial elections on the 11th of March.  The mission that lies ahead of the committee is very clear and time is not on your side.

“As this launch is being hosted in Abuja, we must remember that the real war lies in far-flung places away from Abuja. The task ahead lies in over 8000 wards and 774 local governments across the country, where party faithful will have to make a case before fellow citizens on our party’s candidate articulating the vision and the programme for the country.

 

“The campaign, therefore, should recede the temptation for it to be turned into an Abuja centric activity but establish the connection between the voting public and our presidential candidate, and for other candidates for offices throughout Nigeria, that should be the ultimate objective.

 

“Throughout my political journey and my tenure as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, women have remained the most loyal and supportive group in my mission for a better Nigeria despite the challenges. They should extend this same support to our presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima. As we prepare for the 2023 general elections, my administration has continued to listen to the strong voices of our women for gender justice, social inclusion, and adequate participation in the affairs of their country and in accordance with global, regional, and national conventions, agreements, protocols, and policies to which Nigeria is a signatory. It is in this regard that I hereby direct the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice in conjunction with the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs to work closely with the Office of the First Lady in ensuring that important legislation that can be brought before the National Assembly in furtherance of entrenching constitutional change and legal change and creating a level playing field for our women to be carried out assiduously.

 

“Considering the strategic role women have played in APC victories, we call on you once again to begin organizing and mobilizing vigorously the electorate at all levels for APC victory at the 2023 polls through the committee in an inclusive and cooperative manner.

 

“The inauguration of APC Women Presidential Campaign Committee today is the most crucial component of the 2023 campaign. To this end, I call on all members of this committee to take up this great responsibility as a testament to your selfless service to the APC. I strongly believe that this committee will take the APC to greater heights by developing and implementing a collective and inclusive party’s strategy to ensure APC victory in the 2023 election because there is no alternative to our victory.”

Speaking at the occasion, the presidential flagbearer of the party, Asiwaju Tinubu spat the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, describing it as a “political party of termites.”

 

He said, “Sixteen years of nothingness. Never again shall they come back. A new hope is here.”

 

He said that his government will address the insecurity, economic challenges and restore hope to Nigerians.

In attendance are at least 1,250 women members of the APC from across the country, including the wife of the President Aisha Buhari, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and female political office holders amongst others.

 

Also, The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, said on Monday the decision of the apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, to support the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the 2023 general elections does not represent the interest of the Yorubas.

 

Recall that in September, the Leader of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, said the group would support the former Anambra State governor next year in the interest of justice and equity.

 

He added that the South-East had been marginalised for more than 40 years in the quest to produce the country’s president.

 

Akeredolu spoke during a Twitter space session anchored from Akure, the Ondo State capital.

 

He said: “Afenifere is divided in respect of the purported endorsement and the group’s views do not represent the stance of the Yoruba people.

 

“Asiwaju has deep knowledge about the problems of this nation. He has been part of the struggle to ensure that democracy is enthroned and that a true federal system runs in the country.

 

“There are lots of discussions about the Muslim/Muslim ticket. And some of us have tried to explain to our people. The ticket itself cannot be the issue.

 

“The main issue is who will serve the country. When you talk about the issue of tickets, you also want to talk about the issue of inclusivism. Should the presidency go back to the north? No!

 

“And what are we left with? We are left with Obi and Asiwaju. Then you will weigh the two. Some of us have made a decision about Asiwaju. And the decision is based on what he has to offer.

 

“When put together on a scale, Tinubu weighs higher. We look at intellect, experience and what we stand to gain from his presidency. Capacity and knowledge are different from religion and ethnicity. We have always voted for experience and capacity.

 

“We have said it clearly. President must come to the South. It has come to us now to make a choice. In making the choice, we must think about capacity and competence. And the scale tilts towards Asiwaju Tinubu.”