By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained why Jos, the Plateau State capital, was chosen as venue for the APC presidential campaign flag-off.
Apart from being the home state of the APC presidential campaign council chairman, chairman who is also Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lanlong, President Muhammadu Buhari during his heydays in the military spent time in the state, hence the choice of Jos, among other reasons.
National Chairman, APC, Sen Abdullahi Adamu, explained this while addressing party faithful during the APC presidential campaign flag-off held on the 15 November, 2022 Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos.
At the occasion were President Buhari, who is the Chairman of the APC campaign council, Adamu, the Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shittima, President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawal, Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, APC governors and a large body of APC supporters.
Adamu said: “I am honoured to humbly welcome the leader of our great Party, the President of the Federal Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to our midst. His presence here is evidence, if some were ever needed, of his full support for all the processes that will lead to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections next year. This will be the icing on the cake of his long political career.
“It is with the same honour and humility that I warmly welcome the presidential candidate of our party, the one and only Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jagaba of Borgu, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
“I convey to this august gathering the felicitations of the members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC) of our party.
“We chose Jos for this ceremony, the most important undertaken by our party since the conduct of its successful presidential primaries in June for a very good reason. Provocative speeches and uncouth actions unbecoming of men who seek to lead our country, are heating up the polity. We need cool heads and so we escaped here to Jos to cool our heads in the cool climate and watch others lose their heads in the heat of the hot air generated by them.
“Mr President, distinguished ladies, and gentlemen, today we formally vest the presidential candidate of our party with the party endorsement by presenting him with the party flag. By this he formally and indisputably becomes our flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election. We congratulate him and his running mate, the self-effacing Senator Kashim Shettima”
Sen. Adamu said President Muhammadu Buhari had done well for all of Nigeria, noting that the ruling party is in the race to win at all levels.
“The political opponents can make efforts, to run the race against us but we will emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections,” added.
In his remarks, Tinubu eulogised President Buhari, whom he described as a gentleman who keeps his words. “When Europe was in trouble, it turned to its retired generals. When France was in trouble, it turned to its retired generals. When Israel was in trouble, it turned to its retired generals. When America was in trouble, it turned to its retired generals. When in 2012 through to 2014, Nigeria was in trouble, we turned to our indefatigable retired general, Muhammadu Buhari, who came to recue us from collapse, and today, Nigeria is on the path to glory, courtesy of the retired general, Tinubu stated.
