The Guardian (Nigeria)

Why Ndigbo must vote APC, by Tinubu

- By Emeka Nwachukwu

Nleader of the All Progressiv­es Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has urged all Lagos residents, especially the Igbo community, to vote for the party in the general elections.

He noted that Lagos could decide to behave in a way that would not favour the visitors, if they fail to support the party.

Tinubu spoke yesterday at the party’s Ikeja secretaria­t while addressing thousands of party faithful after the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) meeting. Brimming with confidence for victory at the polls, the former governor said: “We appeal to our Igbo brothers, from the east; this is the state where you conduct your business; your children are in our schools. We don’t discrimina­te against them in our West African Examinatio­ns Council (WAEC), National Examinatio­n Council (NECO) or Joint Admissions and Matriculat­ion Board (JAMB) fees. Even in our universiti­es, they take the benefit of our tuition allowances and all that. Now, we say help us; vote for us and our candidates.”

Tinubu, accompanie­d by the party’s governorsh­ip candidate, Babajide Sanwoolu; his deputy, Kadri Hamzat, and other party leaders, reminded the Igbo how much they benefitted from the APC government, adding that he was specifical­ly instrument­al in the aversion of the demolition of Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Associatio­n (ASPAMDA) business district, owned majorly by the Igbo. “We are in this together. We will know how many votes we will get from Ojo, Alaba, Surulere, Amuwo-odofin, Ajeromi-ifelodun, including Oshodi.

He assured the party of victory, urging the supporters to be peaceful during the elections and pray for the successful conduct of the election by the Independen­t National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“You must go out to vote. Remember the orders of the president against ballot box snatchers and electoral violators. I am not the commander in chief; hence I don’t control any army. Avoid violence and all forms of activities that will put you in trouble and be assured that after the elections we will re-converge to celebrate our victory,” he added.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria