Nigeria: 2023 - Tinubu Promises to Create Jobs, Chides Atiku, Peter Obi in Osun

2 February 2023

He also took a jab at the candidate of the Labour Party, calling him "Mr Stingy, Peter Obi."

The presidential candidate of the APC in the 25 February election, Bola Tinubu, has promised the people of Osun State massive job creation if elected as president.

Mr Tinubu made the commitment on Thursday during a campaign rally held in Osogbo, the state capital.

Besides job creation, the former two-term governor of Lagos State said he would make credit facilities available to business owners so they can expand their operations.

The APC candidate, who spoke mostly in Yoruba, his native language, according to a statement by his media office signed by Tunde Rahman, carpeted the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, over what he called poor governance.

"They were given a little opportunity to rule for some months and they started misbehaving, killing and creating unrest in Osun state," a part of the statement read.

Mr Tinubu who described the PDP as a "poverty development party" told the party faithful and supporters who thronged the venue of the rally to reject Atiku Abubakar, saying the party brought Nigeria to its knees when it was in power.

He also took a jab at the candidate of the Labour Party, calling him "Mr Stingy, Peter Obi."

Read the full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

In Osogbo, Tinubu restates commitment to job creation, credit for business owners

... carpets Governor Adeleke for poor governance

All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, took his message of Renewed Hope to Osun State on Thursday where he assured the people and party supporters of his commitment to create jobs for the unemployed and make credit available for business owners.

Speaking in Yoruba to a mammoth crowd of people who thronged the venue of the campaign rally at Freedom Park Osogbo, Tinubu said his administration would empower the people with the skill that will make them employable while ensuring that the youth will no longer spend years in university due to lecturers' strike action, stating that his pledge to the people will remain a binding covenant.

"I make a social covenant with you today that the unemployed among you will get jobs. Those with no skill will be provided the relevant skill that would put food on their table. When we get to government, we will make soft loans available for market women and business owners."

Taking a swipe at the current Peoples Democratic Party government of Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun State for poor governance of the state, the APC presidential candidate charged the people that APC administration will soon return to continue the good work.

"They were given a little opportunity to rule for some months and they started misbehaving, killing and creating unrest in Osun state."

From his prepared speech which he didn't get the time to read, Asiwaju Tinubu congratulated Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, who was declared winner by the governorship election petition tribunal.

He praised Oyetola's tenacity, diligence, consistency and determination, which made him not to give up until he got his stolen mandate back.

On his plans for Osun, Tinubu noted that the state, which is highly blessed with diverse resources, should be a destination for business and tourism across the country, promising to help achieve this if he becomes the president.

He said, "Osun is a beautiful state filled with virtuous, industrious and welcoming people. We will support Osun to become a manufacturing, industrial, agricultural and tourism paradise.

"You have fertile soil, abundant mineral resources, and a rich culture and history capable of attracting tourists from across the world.

"A vote for me is a vote to develop all parts of this state and this country. Rural areas will not be forgotten but will be developed to support more economic activities and create better lives for the people.

"At the same time, our growing urban population - you city boys - will enjoy decent jobs and a living wage."

Tinubu urged the people of the Osun State not to be deceived by the empty promises of Peoples Democratic Party Candidate Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party Candidate Peter Obi, saying both have nothing to offer.

While he said Atiku was only interested in stealing the nation's resources and pocketing them for himself and his cronies, Tinubu likened Obi to the unprofitable servant who buried his talents, saying while Obi was Anambra State governor, he failed to use the state's resources to develop it, rather saving them for no purpose.

"None of the other major candidates in this election have the capacity, integrity, knowledge or determination necessary to do what must be done. Only I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, am prepared and up to the task of leading this country, our cherished homeland, back towards its best destiny.

"Do not vote for the candidate of the poverty development party, Mr. Privatise, Atiku Abubakar. When, as the Vice President of this country, he had a chance to make a positive difference, he chose the lesser path.

"He chose to use his position to enrich himself, his family and his friends. He sold Nigeria's most prized assets for a fraction of their value. In the name of privatisation, he stole from your future to enrich himself.

"Worse, he has learned nothing. He has gone everywhere telling the Nigerian people that he is coming back to finish the job. He has promised that this time he will not steal your prosperity.

"You should not believe him or his greedy co-conspirators. The nation does not need the return of its Privatiser-in-Chief. Reject him and his band of foul jesters. They have no serious plans for this country. They resort to cheap and vile antics because they have no substance, no solutions.

"Be equally wary of the false messiah, Mr. Stingy, Peter Obi. This man's promises are bold and his boasts are plentiful. Yet, when he was given the responsibility to lead just one state, he was overwhelmed by it.

"He could only stash away the money he was supposed to be using to develop the state. All the people of Anambra could hope for was that whoever came next would have better ideas.

"A governor is not a banker, expected to hold fast to his customer's deposit. Obi was expected to build good roads, schools and hospitals. He was supposed to pay the salaries of Anambra doctors, teachers and civil servants. He was meant to nurture and empower new leaders.

"In eight years, he achieved none of these things. He is no visionary leader. He is the man who proudly buried his talents because he knew no better. This man who could not even understand the proper role of a governor cannot be trusted as the next president. Reject him," he added.

He also itemized further things his administration will do in the agricultural, educational and security sectors to give a befitting life to the people.

"Our farmers will be better equipped to feed the nation. In return, they will receive decent incomes with which they can better tend to their families in addition to tending to their land.

"Our educational reforms will equip talented youth with skills needed to be globally competitive. Our policies will open access to loans and business expertise to those wanting to start their own businesses.

"The bedrock of our national security shall be strengthened. We will better equip military units with tactical communications gear and all-terrain vehicles to give them greater communications and mobility to track down criminals, bandits and terrorists.

"We will upgrade our weapons systems and exploit aerial technological superiority to further identify, monitor and subdue the criminals, terrorists and bandits who would do harm to ordinary citizens," he added.

At the rally were Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); former governors Kayode Fayemi and Adegboyega Oyetola, as well as former APC Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, APC National Women Leader, Betta Edu and other party leaders from National headquarters and South West party leaders.

Tinubu Media Office

Tunde Rahman

February 2, 2023

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