- Begs warring members in Cross River to sheathe swords
- Says he’s only interested in moving Nigeria forward
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 presidential elections, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has appealed to aggrieved and embattled members of the party in Cross River State who lost primary elections to withdraw all lawsuits and stop internal fights against themselves.
He made the appeal on Tuesday in Calabar when he called John Owan-Enoh, former senator for Cross River Central Senatorial District and Mary Eta who also lost the Central senatorial ticket to current Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly Jonas Eteng, to the rostrum during a town hall meeting in Calabar and begged them to sheathe their swords.
Owan-Enoh lost the governorship ticket to Bassey Otu and further lost the case at the high court and later at the appeal court.
Tinubu told the huge crowd of APC members and officials: “Mary Eta and I didn’t start today; we have been friends long ago. And Senator John Owan-Enoh, no matter what, you are bound to be disappointed as far as you are human but please, withdraw your lawsuits. Let us work together. I want the two of you to deflate the balloon of anger and get back together to work for the sake of our party.”
Tinubu said moving Nigeria forward was the only reason he is running to be the President in 2023.
“I am a front-wheel driver; driving Nigeria forward is the only reason I am running.
Division, anger, and breaking apart will not solve Nigeria’s problem. It is only by building a team of intellectuals, and visionaries that we can,” he said.
He commended Governor Ben Ayade for his industrialization drive in bringing the state to the limelight.
He also commended Senator Florence Ita Giwa (Mama Bakassi) for her work for humanity.
The former governor of Lagos said if elected president, the Cross River State will play a leading role in the economic uplift of the nation.
“Our industrial policy will prioritise strategic industries vital to the development of our national economy. We will grow the nation’s industrial base to provide decent jobs and improve wages to our nation’s ever-increasing urban population,” he said.
“Our industrial plan encourages manufacturing on a massive scale across the country. Nigeria will become known as a nation that produces high-quality goods worthy of export anywhere in the world.
“We shall use an array of policy measures. On the fiscal side, we shall employ tax credits and holidays, youth employment incentives, import relief, export credits and well-tailored subsidies where necessary.
“Cross River State will play a leading role in our economic uplift. This state is blessed with limestone, clay, salt, tin, granite, basalt, quartzite, and kaolin deposits in commercial quantities.
“Our policies will afford local artisans and craftsmen throughout the region the necessary tools to provide for their families and, ultimately, boost overall economic activity for the national good. I enjoyed the stimulating cultural entertainment the performers displayed.
“This is a town hall meeting of great minds, brains and visions. My concern is the development of Nigeria. This is a talented nation and moving this country forward is a task that must be done. Let’s put together and conquer hunger by using God’s great space for agriculture.
“Cross River is blessed in agriculture: oil palm, rubber, cocoa, cashews, cassava, yam, rice, plantain, and bananas are abundant and already being processed, strengthening the agro-allied value chain in ways that create better jobs and raise the standard of living.”
Tinubu also said his administration will be deliberate about promoting opportunities for Nigerians to excel.
“We can build in the middle of difficulty. The US was fighting the civil war and still building rail tracks. We should focus on the things that we can accomplish. We have a lot – there is the waterfront here; we have minerals here; we have arable land; we must conquer hunger; we cannot allow hunger conquer us.
“My campaign is built on the firm conviction that our greatest good and best deeds still lie in front of us and not in our past. The industrialisation of our economy represents a vital step towards achieving the Nigeria of our dreams,” he said.
